Mick Fairfield found his wife, Sheena Fairfield, unresponsive with stab wounds in their front yard in November 2022. Joerg Kloepper, the individual charged with her murder, has been acquitted on the basis of mental impairment.
Mr. Fairfield is advocating for a coronial inquest into his wife’s death and urges the government to consider reforms aimed at better supporting crime victims.
He expressed his anguish over never knowing the reasons behind his wife’s murder, particularly after Kloepper was deemed not guilty without undergoing a full trial.
Warning: This account contains graphic and upsetting details.
On that fateful day in November 2022, Mr. Fairfield returned home from their family-owned butcher shop to find his wife lying unresponsive outside. “I opened the gates and saw her lifeless body. I thought she had been attacked by dogs,” he recounted. “I was in shock but called emergency services immediately and attempted CPR.”
Upon the arrival of paramedics, Mr. Fairfield went upstairs to find their five-year-old daughter, Brooklyn, frightened and hiding under a blanket. “She was sweating profusely and said, ‘Daddy, daddy, there was a man here trying to cut mummy’s head off,’” he recalled.
Brooklyn’s description of the attacker led to the swift arrest of Kloepper, who was later charged with Mrs. Fairfield’s murder.
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After a prolonged wait of over three and a half years, the Fairfield family faced a heartbreaking setback last month. Kloepper pleaded not guilty due to mental impairment, which the court had no choice but to accept according to Northern Territory law. Instead of proceeding to a trial, Supreme Court Judge Stephen Southwood officially acquitted Kloepper after reviewing multiple medical reports and expert testimonies.
This month, the case will return to court to determine the appropriate mental health treatment for Kloepper, as well as any necessary supervision or detention requirements.
Mr. Fairfield expressed frustration over the numerous delays in the case, attributing them to ongoing evaluations of Kloepper’s mental condition. “Every month, we meet with the DPP, and they keep postponing,” he stated.
With no trial held, Mr. Fairfield feels robbed of closure and seeks answers regarding the motivation behind his wife’s murder. “I want to understand his motive,” he asserted. “The only thing I’ve been told is that he was unhappy with his life.”
Mr. Fairfield mentioned that Kloepper’s wife had stayed in their granny flat for several nights before leaving for overseas, just months prior to Mrs. Fairfield’s death. “Did he have an obsession with Sheena? Was he upset with her because she helped his wife?” he pondered.
He later confronted Kloepper after Sheena informed him about receiving late-night texts from her former boss. “I told him to leave her alone; he was scaring her,” Mr. Fairfield recalled.
The circumstances surrounding Mrs. Fairfield’s death continue to perplex Mr. Fairfield, particularly regarding Kloepper’s presence in the community despite his mental health issues. He was informed that Kloepper had previously received intensive treatment at the Cowdy Ward of Royal Darwin Hospital. “The government had a responsibility for his care, and now look at the consequences,” Mr. Fairfield lamented. “I want answers, but the law seems to favor him over us.”
In the aftermath of this tragedy, Mr. Fairfield received $40,000 from victims of crime support, a sum he claims is insufficient as he has had to renovate and sell their home. “We had to abandon our house and our lives, and buy all new furniture,” he explained. “We also had to consider Brooklyn’s trauma; she can’t even look at a chair without being reminded of her mother.”
Currently, Mr. Fairfield finds himself hiding kitchen knives and family photos to shield his daughter from triggering memories. As a single parent and primary caregiver, he has fought for months to secure government funding for Brooklyn’s therapy. With uncertainty surrounding Kloepper’s potential release, he plans to move interstate. “He could be released in two years or ten, and it’s unfair for Brooklyn to face the possibility of running into him in public,” he noted. “She already feels unsafe.”
Mr. Fairfield believes his wife’s case has been overlooked and is calling for the government to implement additional measures to support crime victims. He feels the legal system is overly focused on the rights of offenders rather than those of victims’ families. “People argue for second chances, but what about Sheena’s second chance? She’s gone,” he emphasized.
In his quest for justice, Mr. Fairfield has contacted the Northern Territory coroner to advocate for a coronial inquest into Sheena’s death. He is also exploring legal options and considering suing the NT government for negligence. The Department of Health and the Director of Public Prosecutions have been approached for comments but declined to respond due to the ongoing legal proceedings. The attorney-general’s office was also contacted for a statement.
