Inquest into the death of Wendy Murphy

Contributing factors

• Intimate partner violence with decade-long history
• Victim unwillingness to cooperate with criminal justice system due to family and community pressure
• Alcohol consumption and intoxication of perpetrators
• Ineffectiveness of domestic violence orders (DVOs) against recidivist offenders
• Inadequate court processes and delays
• Lack of culturally appropriate intervention strategies
• Socio-economic disadvantage in Aboriginal communities
• Intergenerational family violence
• Jealousy and controlling behaviour by perpetrators
• Perpetrators released from custody without effective behaviour change

Coroner's recommendations

1. Police to continue pursuing body-worn cameras and legislative change to allow camera recordings to be used as evidence-in-chief in court
2. NT Government to consider introducing offender reporting legislation to target and monitor recidivist domestic violence offenders who commit offences at high rates
3. Courts to make more effort to ensure domestic violence matters are dealt with faster and given priority in listing
4. NT Government to consider alternative intervention strategies to criminal justice system that allow flexible family and community-focused approaches ensuring victim safety while giving couples choice to remain together or separate
5. Development and implementation of education programs in schools, social media and wider media on respectful relationships, particularly targeting Aboriginal youth
6. Government to commission independent expert inquiry into responses to alcohol misuse in the Northern Territory to form basis for government plan working with stakeholders