Western Australian mother called police fearing for her children THREE HOURS before they showed

An inquest into the deaths of two children murdered by their father in Perth has heard police took hours to respond to their concerned mother’s plea for help. 

It took police more than three hours to check on two young children after their worried mother raised the alarm and by then their father had already murdered them, an inquest in Perth has heard.

Officers found the bodies of five-year-old Zaraiyah-Lily Headland and three-year-old Andreas Headland on a bed inside a Yanchep home on October 20, 2016.

Officers found the bodies of five-year-old Zaraiyah-Lily Headland and three-year-old Andreas Headland (pictured with their mother) on a bed inside a Yanchep home on October 20, 2016

Their father, Jason Craig Headland (pictured), pleaded guilty to their murders and was sentenced to life in prison

Their father, Jason Craig Headland (pictured), pleaded guilty to their murders and was sentenced to life in prison

Their father, Jason Craig Headland, who was also found at the home with self-inflicted injuries, pleaded guilty to their murders and was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 31 years to be served.

The children’s cause of death could not be ascertained but they had been drugged and asphyxiated.

The actions of police before the deaths are now being investigated in the West Australian Coroners Court.

Counsel assisting the coroner Toby Bishop said the children’s mother, Anatoria Takiwa, had gone to Joondalup police station to request a welfare check after she received a disturbing phone call from her estranged partner.

‘By the time police officers arrived at the family home a few hours later, the children were already deceased,’ he said in his opening address on Tuesday.

Ms Takiwa’s friend Katie Cheeseman was with her when she received that fateful call from Headland.

The actions of police before the deaths are now being investigated in the West Australian Coroners Court. Pictured: Police at the home

The actions of police before the deaths are now being investigated in the West Australian Coroners Court. Pictured: Police at the home

‘I’m going to hurt you … I’m going to break your heart into 50 million pieces. Say goodbye to your kids. This is the last time you’re going to speak to them,’ Headland said.

Ms Cheeseman said she considered Headland might kidnap the children but deep down thought he was going to harm them.

‘I just knew we needed help,’ she testified.

Ms Cheeseman said she thought it would be unsafe for them to go to the house, so they went to the police and spoke to a recruit, who then informed her superiors.

‘I thought they needed to go and make sure the kids were OK,’ Ms Cheeseman said.

‘I thought that they would do it straight away.

‘I expected them to do what they’re meant to do in those situations.’

Counsel assisting the coroner Toby Bishop said the children's mother, Anatoria Takiwa, had gone to Joondalup police station to request a welfare check after she received a disturbing phone call from her estranged partner (pictured)

Counsel assisting the coroner Toby Bishop said the children’s mother, Anatoria Takiwa, had gone to Joondalup police station to request a welfare check after she received a disturbing phone call from her estranged partner (pictured)

After they had been at the station for about half an hour, the recruit spoke to Headland on the phone and he said he would bring the children there, so the women left.

When Headland failed to arrive, the recruit unsuccessfully tried to call him, then called Ms Takiwa and was told Headland might be at the marital home in Yanchep, Mr Bishop said.

The recruit created a job in the police system and gave it a priority three, which meant police were required to respond within one hour.

Ms Takiwa's friend Katie Cheeseman was with her when she received that fateful call from Headland

Officers visited the home about 10.17pm, which was just under one hour, but three and a half hours since Ms Takiwa went to police with her concerns, Mr Bishop said

Ms Takiwa’s (pictured with her children) friend Katie Cheeseman was with her when she received that fateful call from Headland

Officers visited the home about 10.17pm, which was just under one hour, but three and a half hours since Ms Takiwa went to police with her concerns, Mr Bishop said.

The delay gave the siblings’ father time to brutally strangle them to death – and attempt to kill himself.   

Coroner Sarah Linton will consider the reasonableness of relying on Headland saying he would bring the children to the station.

Police communication methods will also come under the microscope, with the coroner set to examine the appropriate time officers should have been dispatched to check on the children.

The inquest continues.

After they had been at the station for about half an hour, the recruit spoke to Headland on the phone and he said he would bring the children there, so the women left

After they had been at the station for about half an hour, the recruit spoke to Headland on the phone and he said he would bring the children there, so the women left

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk