Finding into death of Nilesh Sharma

36y · Male·Hanging (Mr Sharma); Homicide by smothering/suffocation or chloroform exposure (Mrs Preetika Sharma, Divesh Sharma, Divya Sharma)

Nilesh Sharma, a 36-year-old Fiji Indian man, killed his wife Preetika, son Divesh (5 years old), and daughter Divya (3 years old) between 28-29 April 2012, then died by hanging. Evidence suggests he exposed them to chloroform before smothering them. The case involved a history of controlling and isolating behaviour by Mr Sharma toward his wife, though this was not disclosed to healthcare or police services. Mr Sharma had sustained a traumatic brain injury in a motor vehicle collision six months earlier, experiencing cognitive difficulties, headaches, and work stress upon return to employment. Multiple healthcare professionals assessed both Mr and Ms Sharma post-collision but did not identify family violence risks or suicide risk. Cultural factors including gender role expectations, reluctance to disclose family violence, and preference for religious remedies over professional mental health services were identified as contributing to the family's isolation. No single healthcare interaction detected warning signs, despite Ms Sharma's documented fear of Mr Sharma and her isolation from support networks.