A Coroner's Report on Preventable Tragedies: The Case of Maryam Hamka
In a recent coroner's report, a tragic case has shed light on the importance of recognizing and addressing domestic violence. The report highlights how a murderer's history of domestic violence should have raised alarm sooner, leading to calls for police risk assessment policies to be reviewed. The case of Maryam Hamka, a 36-year-old woman, serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences when such violence is not adequately addressed.
On April 11, 2021, Toby Loughnane, Hamka's partner, killed her and buried her body in a shallow grave at Cape Schanck, on the Mornington Peninsula. This incident came to light after Loughnane was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 28 years' imprisonment with 20 years non-parole.
The coroner's findings revealed that Loughnane had a long history of family violence, which should have raised greater concern and warranted specialist oversight. On March 6, weeks before the murder, police responded to a separate incident where Loughnane chased Hamka while armed with a knife to her mother's home. The Family Violence Investigation Unit of Victoria Police triaged the incident as medium risk, according to its guidelines.
However, Hamka's sister provided crucial information to the police, stating that Loughnane had previously 'bashed her really bad.' This information was not reflected in the police report, which noted that there were no previous family violence reports despite Loughnane's history.
The coroner, Liberty Sanger, emphasized that the incident should have been classified as high risk. She stated, 'Even if the risk assessment tool did not assess this as high risk, in my view, this does not obviate the need for members to use professional judgment.'
Loughnane had a record of 21 occasions of family violence, violent offending, and breaches of court orders. He had been managed under high-risk police monitoring in relation to other women. The coroner recommended an independent evaluation of Victoria Police's risk models and Family Violence Investigation Units to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
This case highlights the need for improved risk assessment and response to domestic violence. It serves as a call to action for police and policymakers to reevaluate their approaches and ensure that victims like Maryam Hamka receive the protection and support they deserve.
