Policewoman on duty when two children were murdered by their evil dad breaks down in court recalling how it took THREE HOURS for officers to respond to a frantic plea for help
- Anatoria Takiwa’s two children were brutally murdered by their father in 2016
- WA Police took three-and-a-half hours to do a welfare check on the kids
- Ms Takiwa had gone to police after her estranged partner threatened her
- An inquest is currently being undertaken to look at the actions of police
- A policewoman who was on duty at the time wept in court on Wednesday
A policewoman on duty when a Perth father murdered his two young children has wept in court while expressing sympathy for the mother who had alerted officers to her concerns hours before the tragedy.
Jason Craig Headland is serving a life sentence with a minimum of 31 years after he pleaded guilty to murdering five-year-old Zaraiyah-Lily Headland and three-year-old Andreas Headland at a Yanchep home on October 20, 2016.
The West Australian Coroners Court is examining the actions of police immediately before the deaths, including the three-and-a-half hours it took to send officers to do a welfare check after the children’s mother Anatoria Takiwa told them about her estranged partner’s threatening phone call.
Anatoria Takiwa’s children five-year-old Zaraiyah-Lily Headland and three-year-old Andreas Headland (pictured together) were murdered by their father in 2016
There is currently a inquiry at the West Australian Coroners Court is examining the actions of police immediately before the deaths of the young kids (pictured left together, pictured right with their mother)
Jason Craig Headland is serving a life sentence with a minimum of 31 years after he pleaded guilty to murdering his two children. Pictured with son Andreas
In the call, he said: ‘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.’
Reading a statement on behalf of herself and her colleagues, Senior Constable Christine Barnes, whose surname at the time was Darlington, became emotional, as Ms Takiwa also wept.
‘We’d like to extend our sincerest condolences for the tragic loss of your beautiful children,’ the officer said on Wednesday.
‘We joined police to save lives and make a difference. On the rare occasion, we are unable to do that.
‘We too carry that burden every day. Please accept our deepest sympathy for your loss.’
Senior Constable Barnes, who was an acting sergeant in the District Control Centre at the time, asked a recruit and a sergeant to get more information from Ms Takiwa about the situation.
Ms Takiwa contacted police after her estranged partner (pictured together) made a threatening phone call where he said ‘this is the last time you will speak to your kids’
At that stage, police did not have an address to dispatch a vehicle to, she said.
Senior Constable Barnes said there was no history of domestic violence reported and she agreed with coroner Sarah Linton’s suggestion that police could not just assume the worst-case scenario.
As tragic as the outcome was, police acted properly in conducting their inquiries and did everything they could, she said.
Senior Constable Christine Barnes cried before she read a statement in court on Wednesday, as did Ms Takiwa (pictured with her kids)
Grandmother Lois May testified that when police contacted her partner Douglas Headland to ask if he knew the children’s whereabouts, she did not initially get a sense of urgency.
She also said they had rehashed that night over and over in their hearts and minds.
Ms Linton said she was unlikely to make recommendations in her findings and any potential adverse comments would be in a ‘general sense’.
‘It’s not that anyone failed in their duty or did the wrong thing in any specific sense, it’s more about missed opportunities,’ she said.
Senior Constable Barnes said there was no history of domestic violence reported and she agreed with coroner Sarah Linton’s suggestion that police could not just assume the worst-case scenario. Pictured: The children’s final resting place
Coroner Ms Linton said she understood the inquest must have been hard for Ms Takiwa. Pictured: police investigating
Ms Linton said the story itself might be enough for people to keep it in the back of their minds and use it as a learning experience.
She said Headland was ultimately responsible for the tragedy and had been held accountable.
Addressing the family, the coroner acknowledged the inquest must have been extraordinarily difficult for them and thanked them for their ‘enormous’ contribution.
‘It’s one of those tragic cases that from the coroner’s perspective, we’re really just trying to learn from it and then help the community to understand it more, rather than trying to lay blame on anyone else here.’