Finding into death of Wei Hu

Contributing factors

• Intimate partner violence and family violence escalation
• Wife's separation request and divorce plans
• Wife's commencement of relationship with work colleague
• Mental health decline and depressive symptoms
• Non-compliance with FVIO restrictions by Mr Hu
• Inadequate police investigation and evidence gathering
• Suboptimal police interview technique
• Victim's reluctance to pursue criminal charges

Coroner's recommendations

1. Victoria Police to improve training for front-line members regarding responding to family violence incidents and initial police actions
2. Victoria Police to ensure compulsory police action following family violence reports includes gathering statements from all direct and indirect witnesses
3. Victoria Police to consider VARE interviews when children or young people have witnessed violence
4. Victoria Police to ensure police interviews are conducted with adequate duration and appropriate technique to cover all points of proof
5. Victoria Police to comply with Code of Practice requirement that full statements be obtained from victims detailing all incident details, not pro forma templates encouraging statements of no complaint
6. Victoria Police to improve administrative processes to ensure family violence briefs of evidence are recorded clearly and monitored closely
7. Victoria Police to ensure timely listing of matters in accordance with Family Violence Fast Tracking Initiative requiring listing within seven days of arrest