Family of Yamatji woman shot by police officer doesn’t want murder trial held in Geraldton

The family of a Yamatji woman who was fatally shot by a police officer outside her home say they do not want the impending murder trial to be held in Geraldton. News that the case could be moved to the Mid West city were revealed in court today when the first class constable, who has been charged with her murder, formally entered his not guilty plea. The woman, who the family only want to be known as JC for cultural reasons, was allegedly armed with a knife when the officer, whose identity has been suppressed, shot her outside her Karloo home on September 17, last year. Before the incident, relatives had called triple-0 concerned for the 29-year-old’s welfare. The mother-of-one had complex mental health issues and had received care at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital for a suicide attempt just days before her death. She had also been released from jail about three weeks before after originally being arrested for stealing a mobile phone from a house and then setting fire to her cell. After reviewing CCTV footage of the incident, major crime detectives charged the officer with murder. He became the first WA policeman to be charged with murder in almost a century. During a hearing in WA’s Supreme Court today, the officer was arraigned and entered his not guilty plea. His lawyer, Linda Black, then told the court the defence was seeking to have the trial heard in Geraldton rather than Perth. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had indicted the matter in Perth. Ms Black said she was also seeking a court security report to be prepared to assess whether there would be any impediment to having the trial heard in Geraldton. Director of Public Prosecutions Amanda Forrester told the court the State did not object to a security report being prepared but added it was up to the accused to show why a change of venue was necessary. Ms Black also indicated her client was seeking to amend his bail but was happy to have a decision on that handled administratively. Outside court, JC’s family said they did not want the trial to be heard in Geraldton saying they felt they would get “justice” here. “We don’t want it in Geraldton we want it here in Perth otherwise we not going to get justice in a proper manner,” JC’s sister Bernadette Clarke said. “We will get more support (here in Perth).” JC’s adoptive mother, Anne Jones, also said she would prefer the trial be heard in Perth. “I don’t want it in Geraldton,” she said. “I have been traumatised in last three or four days leading up to this here. “I feel a lot better now, but I don’t want this to go up to Geraldton.” National Justice Project paralegal Megan Krakouer said it was important JC’s family see justice take its course. “Right now in Western Australia the relationship between Aboriginal people and the police is really quite strained and the family need to see justice take its course in this trial,” she said. “Someone has been shot, their daughter has been shot and there needs to be that level of accountability. There is a little boy that’s involved as well. “The bottom line is you can’t replace a mother. There’s nothing like a mother’s love, he’s very lucky that he is supported by Aunty Anne and the family. But there’s nothing like a mother’s love.” Justice Michael Corboy adjourned the matter until September 18 where the application for a change of venue will be heard.