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Livingstone Inquest: Officer admits failings

Author
Adam Walker,
Publish Date
Wed, 22 Apr 2015, 4:38PM
Bradley and Ellen Livingstone
Bradley and Ellen Livingstone

Livingstone Inquest: Officer admits failings

Author
Adam Walker,
Publish Date
Wed, 22 Apr 2015, 4:38PM

UPDATED 6.40PM: A senior police officer has admitted there were failings in relation to background checks of Edward Livingstone.

The inquest into the deaths of Bradley, Ellen and Edward Livingstone is in its second day. Livingstone shot Bradley and Ellen in their beds on January 15, 2014, in the St Leonards home the children shared with their mother.

While being cross examined about the processes involved in the protection order breach arrests, Detective Senior Sergeant Kallum Croudis was quizzed about Livingstone's Australian arrests.

Katharine Webb's lawyer, Anne Stevens asked Detective Senior Sergeant Croudis why the nature of Livingstone's Australian arrests weren't looked into.

"I can't answer on behalf of those officers, but it clearly wasn't done."

When asked if he accepted there was a failure, he said "Yes, I do."

A staff member at Barnardos Dunedin, who saw Livingstone the day he murdered his children, says there was nothing to suggest his future plans.

Barnardos was facilitating visits between Livingstone and his children.

Receptionist, Donna Rowe says Livingstone had a contact visit the afternoon he killed his children.

"He appeared quite relaxed and happy. I cannot recall anything during his visits that should have been seen as a warning."

The court also heard that a neighbour made police aware of thoughts Edward Livingstone had about killing his family with an axe and then setting the house on fire.

But, Superintendent Andrew Coster told the inquest, they recorded seven telephone calls from the Katharine Webb's neighbours and there was no mention of the potnetial attack.

"It was certain she did not explain to police about Edward Livingstone having thoughts about killing his family with an axe."

Coster says when police visited the address later that evening, there was no mention of the axe threat.

 

 

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