Finding into death of Alana Ricardo

IN THE CORONERS COURT OF VICTORIA

AT MORWELL Court Reference: 4546/2009

FINDING INTO DEATH with INQUEST

Form 37 Rule 60(1) vex ‘ion 67 of the Coroners Act 2008

Inquest into the Death of Alana Ricardo

Delivered On: 20 April 2012 Delivered At: Latrobe Valley Hearing Dates:

Findings of: H.C.H. Alsop

Coroner’s assistant Senior Constable Connell

1H.C.H. Alsop, Coroner having investigated the death of Alana Ricardo

AND having held an inquest in relation to this death on 19 September 2009 at 4 Ash Street Morwell Victoria 3840

find that the identity of the deceased was Alana Ricardo

born on 28/12/1983

and death occurred on 19th September 2009

at 4 Ash Street Morwell, Victoria 3840

from

la Haemorrhage

Ib Stab wound to chest

Ms Ricardo was aged 25 at the time of her death.

In 2005 she met Steven John Mills, who, in the words of the informant, became infatuated with her.

In or about July 2009, Ms Ricardo met Mr Jason Bowman and the two commenced a relationship in early 2009.

In July of that year, the relationship suffered a set-back based on the possibility of a short liaison having occurred between Mr Mills and Ms Ricardo.

Following the resumption of the relationship between Ms Ricardo and Mr Bowman, Mr Mills was informed by Ms Ricardo’s mother that he, Mr Mills, had “no hope” of having a future with Mr Ricardo as she was in love with Mr Bowman.

On 18 September 2009, Mr Mills was looking after Ms Ricardo’s children while their mother was at work. Ms Ricardo drove to Mills’ property collect her children and arranged with Mr Mills for them both to watch the football together that night at Ms Ricardo’s home.

During the evening, Ms Ricardo contacted a number of people via her mobile phone, in which she expressed some concern about Mills being at her home.

It appears (although there is no direct evidence on this point) that late on the night of 18 September, Ms Ricardo told Mr Mills that there was no prospect of a relationship between them,

It further appears that Mr Mills left Ms Ricardo’s house late that evening and that he returned some hours later ie in the early hours of 19 September.

In the violent physical confrontation which then developed, Ms Ricardo suffered bruising to the scalp, tongue, left cheek and right eye brow.

She also suffered a stab wound to the right side of the back which penetrated into the chest, through the right lower lobe of the lung and emerging through major blood vessels near the heart. The haemorrhage from this stab wound caused her death.

The Coroners Act prohibits a coroner from including in a finding or comment, any statement that a person is, or may be guilty of an offence. Without specifying any offence, T find that the injuries suffered by Ms Ricardo were inflicted by Mr Mills, who, shortly thereafter, took his own life. (See Inquest finding Steven John Mills 2009/4547),

Whilst there is no direct evidence that Mr Mills and Ms Ricardo were in a relationship, these tragic events must be categorised as having arisen in the context of domestic violence.

E.C.H. Alsop”

Date: f / Yi Ler omn