Gail Karran made a recording of the attack that killed her. She activated a secret audio device when she heard her husband, Bill Karran, arrive home from the Hervey Bay police watch house on the night of 31 October 2017. It recorded Bill banging on the door. It recorded 105 blows.
Bill Karran was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter, rape and strangulation. A coroner found there was “very little … which would have prevented him” from killing Gail.
But Guardian Australia’s two-year investigation into domestic and family violence homicides in Queensland has uncovered shocking new evidence – including records withheld from the coroner – of serious police failures that placed Gail in danger the night she was attacked.
The Guardian can reveal that earlier on that night police issued Bill Karran with a domestic violence protection notice that included details about allegations his wife had made.
Bill was drunk when he was released from the watch house and handed the document outlining Gail’s allegations.
Police took no steps to notify Gail that her allegations had been disclosed to Bill, to advise her of his release from custody or to check on her welfare.
A Queensland police deputy commissioner, Cameron Harsley, acknowledged there had been police failures in the case. He said the failure to speak to Gail’s family and obtain further evidence was “a missed opportunity”.
“I look at these matters and in hindsight it tells me that the system that we are trying to mature and the workforce we’re trying to build around protecting victims of domestic and family violence has come a long way but has a long way to go,” he said.
“By no means do I defend us not doing our job as well as we can.”
Watch the full documentary Broken Trust on Guardian Australia.
In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org
Subscribe to Guardian Australia on YouTube and hit the bell to see new videos ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardianaustralia?sub_confirmation=1
Get the latest news at theguardian.com ► https://www.theguardian.com/au?CMP=gdnaus_yt
Support Guardian Australia ► https://support.theguardian.com/contribute?CMP=gdnaus_yt
Sign up to Guardian Australia’s free daily newsletters, the Morning Mail and Afternoon Update ► https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=gdnaus_yt
Find or follow Guardian Australia:
Website ► https://theguardian.com/au?CMP=gdnaus_yt
Google News ► https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMNTrogswl_a6Aw
Instagram ► https://instagram.com/guardianaustralia
TikTok ► https://tiktok.com/@guardianaustralia
LinkedIn ► https://linkedin.com/company/guardianaustralia
Threads ► https://www.threads.net/@guardianaustralia
WhatsApp Channels ► https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaBW8Bn6hENlReOC9j0l
Facebook ► https://facebook.com/theguardianaustralia
Newsletters ► https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=gdnaus_yt
Subscribe to the Guardian’s other YouTube channels:
The Guardian ► https://www.youtube.com/@theguardian
Guardian News ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardiannews
Guardian Football ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardianfootball
Guardian Sport ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardiansport
Guardian Live ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardianlive
#breakingnews #news #guardianaustralia #theguardian
