Coroner's Finding: Whitehouse, Kieren Jamie Wesley

MAGISTRATES COURT of TASMANIA

CORONIAL DIVISION Record of Investigation into Death (Without Inquest) Coroners Act 1995 Coroners Rules 2006 Rule 11 I, Simon Cooper, Coroner, having investigated the death of Kieren Jamie Wesley Whitehouse Find, pursuant to Section 28(1) of the Coroners Act 1995, that a) The identity of the deceased is Kieren Jamie Wesley Whitehouse; b) Mr Whitehouse died as a consequence of a single vehicle crash, as driver. Speed (128 km/h in a 100 km/h zone) and alcohol (at least 0.134 g/100 ml) were both contributing factors. Road and weather conditions did not cause or contribute to the happening of the crash. The vehicle Mr Whitehouse was driving did not have any mechanical defect which caused or contributed to the crash. There is no evidence of the involvement of the any other person in the crash, nor of any suspicious circumstances. There is no evidence to support a conclusion that Mr Whitehouse’s death was the result of a voluntary and deliberate action on his part; c) The cause of Mr Whitehouse’s death was positional asphyxia; and d) Mr Whitehouse died, aged 23 years, on 15 April 2021 at West Mooreville Road, Ridgley, Tasmania.

In making the above findings I have had specific regard to:  Police Report of Death for the Coroner;  Affidavits establishing identity and life extinct;  Report – Dr Donald Ritchey, Forensic Pathologist;  Report – Forensic Science Service Tasmania;  Affidavit – Mrs Shania Whitehouse, sworn 15 May 2021;  Affidavit – Mr Benjamin Sutcliffe, sworn 19 April 2021;  Affidavit – Mr Connor Walker, sworn 18 July 2021  Affidavit – Mr Nicholas Bush, sworn 15 May 2021;  Affidavit – Ms Mikaela Whiteroad, sworn 1 June 2021;

 Affidavit – First Class Constable Dean Wotherspoon, sworn 12 June 2021 (and photographs;  Affidavit – Senior Constable Caroline McGregor, sworn 28 May 2021 (and photographs;  Affidavit – First Class Constable Jodie Duncan, sworn 9 May 2021 (and photographs);  Affidavit – Constable Sheldon Cooper1, sworn 18 July 2021 (and body worn camera footage);  Affidavit – Andrew Wood (Police Officer – rank not stated), sworn 13 June 2021 (and body worn camera footage);  Affidavit – Constable Jennifer Whitty, sworn 7 June 2021 (and body worn camera footage);  Affidavit – Constable Glenn Martin, sworn 6 July 2021 (and body worn camera footage);  Affidavit – Senior Constable Damian Howden, sworn 20 July 2021;  Collision Analysis Report – Senior Constable Adam Lloyd;  Affidavit – Mr Philip Evans, Transport Inspector, sworn 31 May 2021;  Medical Records – Somerset Medical Centre; and  Road Crash Data.

Comments and Recommendations The circumstances of Mr Whitehouse’s death are not such as to require me to make any comments or recommendations pursuant to Section 28 of the Coroners Act 1995.

I convey my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Kieren Jamie Wesley Whitehouse.

Dated: 4 February 2022 at Hobart in the State of Tasmania.

Simon Cooper Coroner 1 Constable Cooper is not related to me.