An inquest has commenced regarding the untimely death of a 17-year-old Aboriginal boy who passed away while under state care. A witness testified that he had previously expressed concerns about the teenager’s well-being prior to his death.
The inquest is ongoing and will consider testimonies from ten different witnesses. The young boy, who was in a semi-independent living facility at the time of his unexpected demise, was reportedly living without adequate supervision, as indicated by the witness.
It is important to note for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers that this article mentions the name of an Indigenous individual who has passed away, with the consent of his family.
On Tuesday, Deputy State Coroner Naomi Kereru initiated the inquest to ascertain whether the circumstances surrounding the boy’s death could have been averted. The family has requested that the deceased be referred to as Mauchy.
Rebecca Schell, the counsel assisting the coroner, informed the court that the inquest would investigate several critical issues, including whether Mauchy’s transition from care was handled appropriately and whether the Department for Child Protection (DCP) adequately supported him during this transition.
Schell also noted that the inquest would examine if the possibility of placing Mauchy in Port Augusta, closer to family, was properly considered. Additionally, the inquiry will assess the current policies of the DCP regarding the transition of Aboriginal youth out of care and the independent living programs currently in use.
At the time of his death on July 11, 2020, Mauchy had been living independently for just over six months, following his departure from foster care. An autopsy revealed that his death resulted from the aspiration of his gastric contents, likely exacerbated by a psychoactive drug known as Flualprazolam, which is often confused with Xanax.
Schell stated that Mauchy was observed consuming four ‘Xanax’ tablets the day prior to his death, which were likely counterfeit, leading to the presence of Flualprazolam in his system. She explained that the sedation from this substance likely contributed to his aspiration.
The court also learned that Mauchy had a history of being treated for ADHD and other mental health issues, but he was not on any medication at the time of his passing. Upon police arrival at his living unit, they found evidence of illicit drug use, describing the environment as cluttered and unsanitary, with food waste and garbage strewn about.
A witness recounted to the inquest that he had consistently raised alarms with DCP regarding Mauchy’s drug use and his lack of supervision. The witness expressed concern over Mauchy’s ability to manage his health conditions, which included ADHD and Perthes disease, a hip condition affecting children.
Concerned about the teenager’s vulnerability to drug use, the witness stated, “He needed constant supervision,” highlighting Mauchy’s naivety regarding drug quantities.
The witness mentioned that Mauchy had begun staying at the facility for four nights each week the year before he officially moved in, and he had communicated his concerns to DCP during that time as well. When asked how many times he had reported Mauchy missing, he replied, “heaps of times,” emphasizing that DCP was aware of the situation but believed Mauchy was safe there.
Schell revealed that the witness had previously emailed the Coroner’s Court in August 2020 regarding his concerns and had also written to the DCP Ombudsman, who informed him that no further investigation into Mauchy’s case was warranted.
The inquest is anticipated to last eight days, during which testimonies from ten witnesses, including representatives from DCP, will be presented.
