Finding into death of Mark Leslie Missen
Deceased
Mark Leslie Missen
Demographics
56y, male
Date of death
2016-01-29
Finding date
2021-11-20
Cause of death
Multiple blunt force trauma to the head and neck
AI-generated summary
This finding concerns the homicide of Mark Leslie Missen (56 years old) by his son Nathan in January 2016 following a family violence incident. The autopsy revealed death from multiple blunt force trauma to the head and neck. The case involved a protracted history of family violence between father and son, with prior police involvement and active Family Violence Intervention Orders at the time of death. The coroner identified systemic failures by Victoria Police in investigating breaches of family violence orders and enforcing protective measures. Critical gaps included: failure to submit a person whereabouts request following a reported FVIO contravention in September 2015, missed opportunities to interview and charge Nathan when he had police contact in December 2015 and January 2016, and failure to investigate living arrangements that violated the protective orders. The coroner noted that police procedures at the time were non-mandatory but commented that modern expectations require mandatory arrest and charging for FVIO contraventions. Victoria Police have since implemented significant reforms to family violence response procedures.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Error types
Contributing factors
- Family violence history between father and son
- Failure to investigate and enforce Family Violence Intervention Order breaches
- Police failure to interview and charge Nathan for contravening FVIO in September 2015
- Police failure to identify Nathan's breach of living arrangements in violation of FVIO when missing person report filed January 2016
- Police failure to investigate contravention when parties presented together at Shepparton Police Station on 8 January 2016
- Missed opportunities for police intervention at multiple contact points with Nathan
- Methamphetamine use by Nathan and Ms Rohde
- Violent assault on Ms Rohde on evening of death precipitating fatal confrontation
Coroner's recommendations
- Victoria Police to ensure mandatory submission of Person Whereabouts requests when family violence offences are reported
- Victoria Police to ensure mandatory arrest and charging for any contravention of Family Violence Intervention Orders
- Victoria Police to conduct mandatory LEAP checks during all interactions with persons subject to or protected by Family Violence Intervention Orders
- Victoria Police to ensure timely investigation of family violence matters and submission of briefs for prosecution advice within appropriate timeframes
- Strengthened family violence risk assessment tools and training for Victoria Police members responding to family violence incidents
Full text
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