Coroners court assists to compile data and responses to deaths from domestic violence in South Australia

The entrance to the Sout Australian coroners court in King William Street south, Adelaide.

The South Australian coroners court was given power to inquire into violent, unusual of unknown-case deaths, fires or accidents injuring to a person or property; also the disappearance of a person within the state.  Domestic violence-related deaths became a particular focus of research with the coroner’s office. Coroners had also been outspoken on general issues such as the lack of mental health services in the state.

Historically, South Australian investigations into reportable deaths usually started with a police report forwarded to the state coroner who decided whether to proceed with an inquest. The court had power to retain a person’s remains, order autopsies, and direct how a person’s remains may be disposed of.

A coroner might reopen an inquest at any time but could not make any finding or suggestion, of criminal or civil libability. When a serious criminal offence relating to the inquest had been disclosed, the coroner cannot proceed with it. There was a possible right of appeal from the findings of a coroner to the supreme court.

The South Australian governor might appoint a state coroner who oversaw and coordinated coronial services and issues guidelines to other coroners. All magistrates were deputy state coroners.

The court sat in Adelaide and at any location as required. The registry was in the coroners court building at 302 King William Street, Adelaide. The coroners office provided broad services to the community by recognising the need to assist bereaved families to understand the coronial investigation. Domestic violence death review procedures were embedded within coronial courts and laws of South Australia and other states.

The South Australian Office for Women and the coroner’s court were partners in researching and investigating domestic violence-related deaths, with a senior research officer (domestic violence) in place since 2011.

The officer gathered information on trends and possible responses to domestic violent deaths, including suicides.

Coroners had been outspoken on general issues related to death, such as deputy state coroner and magistrate Jayne Basheer’s finding in 2018 that adequate mental health services could have potentially prevented the deaths of two young Adelaide women wth borderline personality disorders, and described the state government's policy failures in the area as “scandalous”.