Deceased
the Police Pursuits
Coroner
State Coroner Fogliani
Date of death
2012-10-19, 2013-02-12, 2014-01-11, 2014-11-13, 2014-12-21
Cause of death
Multiple injuries (all six deceased); underlying drivers intoxicated with methylamphetamine and other drugs
AI-generated summary
Six deaths following police pursuits and vehicle intercepts in Western Australia between 2012-2014. Deaths resulted from collisions during or shortly after police operations, with drivers evading police significantly intoxicated on methylamphetamine. The coroner found police did not cause or contribute to any deaths. All were unlawful homicides except two accidents. Key finding: drug-intoxicated drivers bore primary responsibility; drivers demonstrated reckless, voluntary behaviour despite impairment. Police risk assessments generally appropriate; pursuits lawfully authorised. Lessons: methylamphetamine prevalence in impaired drivers is a significant road safety issue; resolution strategies (Police Airwing, stingers) should be expanded; ongoing risk assessment protocols appear effective when followed. Clinical relevance limited; primarily a coronial law matter rather than medical error case.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
41y · Male·Ligature compression of the neck (hanging) and penetrating sharp force injury (s…
Corey Desmond Devree, aged 41, died by suicide in Bunbury Regional Prison on 14 October 2024 through ligature compression of the neck and a self-inflicted stab wound to the chest. Key clinical and systemic lessons includ…
24y · Male·unknown
Paul David Murphy, aged 24, disappeared in July 1986 from Perth, Western Australia. His abandoned Austin 1800 sedan was found near Toolinna Rockhole in September 1986, along with his personal belongings discovered in Mar…
42y · Male·Ligature compression of the neck (hanging)
Brian Kealy, aged 42, died by hanging at Hakea Prison on 2 August 2024 while on remand. He had a complex psychiatric history including polysubstance use, personality disorders, and treatment-resistant psychotic symptoms.…
Source and disclaimer
This page reproduces or summarises information from publicly available findings published by Australian coroners' courts. Coronial is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any coronial court or government body.
Content may be incomplete, reformatted, or summarised. Some material may have been redacted or restricted by court order or privacy requirements. Always refer to the original court publication for the authoritative record.
Copyright in original materials remains with the relevant government jurisdiction. AI-generated summaries and tagging are for educational purposes only, may contain inaccuracies, and must not be treated as legal documents. We welcome feedback for correction — report an inaccuracy here.