Police missed multiple red flags before Mark Bombara killed mother and daughter while hunting for his ex-wife, official investigation finds
Police officers missed red flags and should have seized the guns of a man who went on to kill a mother and daughter in a search for his ex-wife, an internal investigation has found.
Mark Bombara killed Jenny Petelczyc and her 18-year-old daughter Gretl Petelczyc in their suburban West Australian home, before taking his own life on the afternoon of May 24 last year.
Bombara believed his ex-wife had been staying at the house in Floreat in Perth’s west.
His daughter, Ariel Bombara, claimed WA police ignored repeated warnings her father was dangerous and had several guns.
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said an internal investigation had found eight officers did not perform their duty and would face disciplinary action.
‘Officers did not correctly assess the risk therefore the available powers under the Restraining Orders Act and Firearms Act were not exercised appropriately,’ Mr Blanch said on Friday.
The investigation found police did not properly investigate allegations Bombara had committed offences with firearms and whether he was a fit and proper person to own a gun.
Months earlier Bombara had suffered a minor stroke and had ongoing mental health issues.
Mark Bombara killed Jenny Petelczyc and her 18-year-old daughter Gretl Petelczyc (pictured) in their suburban West Australian home, before taking his own life on the afternoon of May 24 last year.
Bombara believed his ex-wife had been staying at the house in Floreat in Perth’s west (pictured: Bombara with his ex-wife)
Since the murders, the WA government has amended firearm laws, requiring mental health checks and safety training for owners.
The investigation made 18 recommendations, 11 of which have been completed and all were welcomed by Ms Bombara.
‘This report identifies all the risk factors we communicated to the police,’ she said.
‘We told you he was going to murder us … did you not believe us … or did you just not give a s**t?’
Ms Bombara said she was ‘baffled’ at how police missed the red flags concerning her father.
‘I think this was the perfect storm of apathy and compassion fatigue from officers,’ she said.
‘Combined with shoddy systems, outdated policies and insufficient training and support, resulting in a lethal outcome.’
WA Police admitted a protection order should have been in place for the Bombara family when they had first reported incidents of violence.
Ariel Bombara (pictured) said she was ‘baffled’ at how police missed the red flags concerning her father
‘I tried so hard to convince the police of the danger and I deserved better,’ Ms Bombara said.
Details of the disciplinary action taken against the individual police officers has not been disclosed.
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