Tasmania Police remains confident in its family violence protocols, in the wake of a coroner’s findings which found the force could have done more prior to the brutal 2012 murder of Launceston’s Jessica Ann Kupsch.
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Coroner Simon Cooper handed down his findings into the death of Ms Kupsch on Monday.
It follows a coronial inquest in March that heard police officers were aware that Ms Kupsch’s eventual killer was in breach of a court no-contact order made between the pair on August 2 of that year, but failed to act until days later.
Mathew Tunks – Ms Kupsch’s long-time boyfriend and abuser – stomped her to death at Penny Royal on August 9.
He was jailed for 23 years in December 2012.
The court also heard that just months before the murder – when Tunks was facing charges for family violence against his partner – a police prosecutor entered into a “plea bargain” with Tunks’ lawyer that saw horrific facts about his treatment of Ms Kupsch omitted from a court document, resulting in a more lenient sentence.
Tasmania Police made a decision to review its family violence handling system after the murder.
Mr Cooper said: “The response of Tasmania Police to the ongoing issues between Ms Kupsch and Mr Tunks was inappropriate.
“No steps were taken to investigate the apparent breach of the family violence order for several days, a delay which proved critical in the circumstances.”
In response, Tasmania Police Assistant Commissioner Richard Cowling listed the positive steps the force had taken towards overcoming the state’s family violence problem, including a new policy surrounding plea bargains, and the establishment of the new Safe Families Coordination Unit, which features specialists from police and several government departments.
“It is a current policy of Tasmania Police to ensure family violence offenders are brought to justice expediently. The gathering of corroborative evidence at the earliest opportunity is imperative for a successful prosecution.”
Also in Mr Cooper’s firing line was a political decision to change the original Family Violence Bill so that a provision that all family violence incidents should be mandatorily reported was omitted.
Mr Cooper used his findings to call on the government to consider amending the Act.
A state government spokesman said: “Family violence legislation is a very complex area, requiring detailed consideration of the potential risks and benefits of different approaches. The government will now carefully consider the coroner’s recommendations.”
Ms Kupsch’s mother Donna said she wanted the prior convictions of violent offenders read out at all of their future court proceedings.
She has also called for a criminal database that is accessible to all family violence stakeholders, including police, the Health Department and social services.
“They could’ve done better,” she said.
A ‘Red Balloon Day’ will be held on August 9 to commemorate four years since Ms Kupsch’s death.
