Coroner's Finding: GILL Dennis William

CORONERS ACT, 2003 SOUTH AUSTRALIA FINDING OF INQUEST An Inquest taken on behalf of our Sovereign Lady the Queen at Adelaide in the State of South Australia, on the 3rd day of August 2011, by the Coroner’s Court of the said State, constituted of Mark Frederick Johns, State Coroner, into the death of Dennis William Gill.

The said Court finds that Dennis William Gill aged 72 years, late of 21a Brougham Place, Alberton, South Australia died at Ashford Hospital, 55 Anzac Highway, Ashford, South Australia on the 30th day of August 2009 as a result of acute leukaemia on a background of ischaemic heart disease. The said Court finds that the circumstances of his death were as follows:

1. Introduction, cause of death and reason for Inquest 1.1. Dennis William Gill died on 30 August 2009 at Ashford Hospital. His cause of death was given by Professor Maddocks as acute leukaemia on a background of ischemic heart disease.

1.2. Mr Gill was at the time of his death serving a sentence of suspended imprisonment by way of home detention. He had been sentenced on 28 May 2009, by a Judge of the District Court for four counts of indecent assault with a head sentence of 2.5 years suspended on the grounds of his age and his complicated medical condition, which I will outline in due course.

1.3. Accordingly, Mr Gill's death was a death in custody within the meaning of the Coroners Act 2003 and this inquest was required to be held by virtue of section 21(1)(a) of that Act.

2. Background 2.1. The Court transcript records the offences for which Mr Gill was sentenced. They related to events which occurred in the early 1980s. Mr Gill was elderly and frail

with significant medical conditions by the time he was dealt with according to law in relation to his criminal behaviour.

2.2. His medical history included aortic valve replacement, a bypass graft and a subsequent double bypass graft in 2005. In 2008 he underwent bowel surgery for cancer which subsequently went into remission. In 2008 a pacemaker was also inserted.

2.3. He had a variety of medical conditions including diabetes mellitus and ischaemic heart disease as evidenced by the significant history outlined above.

2.4. Mr Gill had extensive medical treatment over his life and had the benefit of significant interventions by a number of different medical disciplines.

2.5. After his sentence Mr Gill was, as I have said, serving his sentence by means of a suspended sentence, suspended on condition that he be confined to his home address, subject to particular conditions that were specified in the bond.

2.6. Shortly after his sentencing on 28 May 2009 his illness intensified. He was admitted to Ashford Hospital where he was, after some time, diagnosed with a malignant leukaemia. The illness was progressed swiftly. He had the benefit of extensive, competent and comprehensive medical care.

2.7. His death followed in the natural progression of this illness and there are no issues that arise out of his medical treatment. He was lawfully detained by order of the District Court, subject to the conditions that I have already referred to, a sentence to be served at home.

3. Recommendations 3.1. There were no issues surrounding his medical treatment and it is not necessary for me to make any recommendations in this matter.

Key Words: Death in Custody In witness whereof the said Coroner has hereunto set and subscribed his hand and Seal the 3rd day of August, 2011.

State Coroner Inquest Number 27/2011 (1490/2009)