Inquest into the death of Paul Lambert
Deceased
Paul Lambert
Demographics
36y, male
Date of death
2016-11-03
Finding date
2019-02-15
Cause of death
Combined effect of gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen
AI-generated summary
Paul Lambert, 36, was shot by NSW Police on the Pacific Highway after attacking and stabbing his former girlfriend Dr J. multiple times. He had a longstanding pattern of intimate partner violence, stalking, emotional abuse and fabricated mental health crises to manipulate partners. He breached Queensland parole by living in NSW undetected from July-November 2016. After Dr J. ended their relationship, he attacked her with a knife, was pursued by police, and engaged in a stand-off armed with a knife. Despite negotiation attempts, a Taser deployment precipitated his fatal advance toward officers with a raised knife. The coroner found lethal force was justified but noted better outcomes might have occurred with earlier highway closure, additional Taser-equipped officers, and detection of his parole breach. Key lessons include need for enhanced non-lethal tactical options (shields), weapons dealer access to ADVO/AVO databases, and improved interstate parole information systems.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Procedures
Contributing factors
- Longstanding pattern of intimate partner violence and stalking
- Undetected breach of Queensland parole conditions
- Mental health issues including probable bipolar 1 disorder and severe personality disorder with borderline and narcissistic traits
- Emotional manipulation and abuse of partner
- History of threats of self-harm used to manipulate relationships
- Lack of psychiatric assessment and treatment compliance
- Attack on former girlfriend preceding police response
- Armed confrontation with knife on open highway
- Failure to escalate Taser response with senior officer command coordination
- Inadequate perimeter establishment on active highway
Coroner's recommendations
- NSW Police Force continue to review other tactical options of non-lethal nature for dealing with offenders armed with a knife, including use of shields, to minimise serious harm when disarming is required
- NSW Police Force consider implementing an information sharing system to allow licensed weapons dealers to check if a person attempting to buy a knife has an outstanding apprehended violence order or apprehended domestic violence order
- Copy of inquest transcript and findings to be provided to Queensland Probation and Parole Service to examine how information systems between states could operate more effectively
- NSW Police Force should ensure critical incident investigation teams record why officers are interviewed on relevant dates and what measures were undertaken to prevent witness discussion in interim
Full text
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