Police fatal shooting in farm gun battle ‘justified’
A man was shot four times and his vehicle was struck by dozens of police bullets after he drove at officers while armed with a rifle, a coroner has heard.
inquest
Search delay for missing Indigenous man, coroner hears
The search for a missing Indigenous man faced a delayed start and premature end due to police making errors and following a false lead, a coroner has heard.
Fatal Molotov attack after mother not considered risk
A woman had been assessed as not a homicide risk to the father of her children before she killed him with a Molotov cocktail, a coroner has found.
Police did their all in teen terror tragedy, probe told
An inquest into the death of a state police employee and his Islamic State-driven shooter has been told nothing could have been done to avoid the tragedy.
Double murderer died from natural causes, coroner finds
A former ambulance officer who murdered two women died in a hospital bed after being transferred out of prison for cancer treatment, a coroner found.
‘Drop the knife’: conflicting accounts of cop shooting
A police officer says he yelled "drop the knife" before shooting an Indigenous man while a witness claimed nothing was said ahead of an inquest into the death.
‘Foul play’ likely in missing mum’s 50-year cold case
A missing mother likely met with foul play, police say, after she vanished in 1976 but her now-deceased husband was never interviewed over the disappearance.
Freeman family anguish as tip-off leads to $1m claim
Dezi Freeman's family are struggling to cope with his death, as sources suggest his hiding spot was uncovered following a tip-off from a member of the public.
‘Get out’: police cop deathbed rant from outback killer
Even as he lay on his deathbed, a notorious murderer refused to divulge the whereabouts of a backpacker he shot dead in a crime that shook the nation.
Girl returned to killer parents despite ‘cult’ warning
A family's extreme religious beliefs against medical treatment were known to authorities years before their "cult" killed a little girl, a coroner has heard.
Fatal mine crash likely had medical cause, coroner told
There were two plausible theories for why a drill rig worker suddenly accelerated his ute before fatally crashing into a mine truck, a coroner has been told.
Family’s torture after fatal brawl probe ‘goes nowhere’
An inquest's disappointing failure to identify who fatally punched a 23-year-old during a late-night brawl caps years of torment, his family says.
‘Listen’: Indigenous youth warned of deadly jail cycle
The brother of a First Nations inmate who died from capsicum spray being used to break up a prison fight has urged young people to avoid the same tragic fate.
‘Cool off’: mum turned away before murder, inquest told
An inquest for a woman murdered by her husband has been adjourned after a last minute claim that the mother was turned away by police and told to "cool off".
Cops ‘missed chances’ before mum set on fire by husband
Officers incorrectly granted a man bail, wrongly filed a complaint and couldn't open an important file before a young mum was murdered, a coroner has heard.
‘Not appropriate’: killer released by cop before attack
A man who stabbed and set his wife alight after being released by a police officer should have applied for bail in front of a magistrate, a coroner has heard.
Couple on ‘bucket list’ trip before fatal zipline fall
A woman riding a tandem zipline through a rainforest canopy felt a sharp drop but her husband thought it was staff playing a prank, a coroner has heard.
Teen camping death from meat allergy a near world-first
A coroner has warned more people could be at risk after she found a teenager died from a tick-derived allergy after eating beef sausages on a camping trip.
‘Not in vain’: family’s hope after boy’s allergy death
The family of a 17-year-old boy who died after suffering an anaphylactic reaction are hoping a coroner's strong recommendations are heard and acted upon.
Father lashes out at suggestion he started fatal fire
A father whose son died of extensive burns in a house fire has frequently lashed out at an inquest, saying his memory had been erased.
crime, law and justice
death and dying
indigenous people
inquest
justice and rights
prison
punishment
research
Deadly disparity for Indigenous people under restraint
A study of deaths in custody has highlighted a disturbing disparity involving the use of a potentially lethal restraint on Indigenous Australians.
Systemic changes urged after mass stabbing revelations
Almost two years after six victims died in a horrifying mass stabbing, the pressure is on the government and others to make changes and prevent further deaths.
Hope out of tragedy as mass stabbing lessons laid bare
The husband of a woman killed in a shopping mall stabbing spree says lives will be saved by improvements suggested after an inquest into the mass killing.
Cops slammed as sister seeks truth about model’s death
The sister of an escort who vanished more than 30 years ago has criticised an "indifferent" police force's failures to do a proper initial investigation.
‘Distressing’: parents to attend baby death inquest
The death of a baby girl and the injuries found at her autopsy led police to put her parents under covert audio and internet surveillance, a coroner has heard.
Madam recounts ‘life of terror’ when model vanished
The boss of an escort who disappeared without a trace has blamed an allegedly abusive and controlling husband for inconsistencies in her statements to police.
Notorious killer took own life in secure cell: coroner
A notorious killer of a mother and her two daughters used a prison issue item to take his own life in a secure unit, a coroner has found.
Madam made ‘intriguing’ call after young model vanished
As one of Australia's most notorious disappearances is reinvestigated, there is renewed focus on a brothel madam's call shortly after her employee vanished.
Potential drugs claim delays helicopter collision probe
A second round of coronial hearings into one of Australia's worst air disasters has been delayed for more than five months after a new witness came forward.
Exploited worker’s death sparks anti-slavery calls
The death of a migrant worker who was exploited and fearful of his visa sponsor has prompted calls for the creation of an anti-slavery hotline.
Clintons may face contempt for refusing Epstein probe
Bill and Hilary Clinton may face contempt charges after refusing to testify at a Republican-led investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.