An inquest into the fatal police shooting of a man in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region has heard family members had twice contacted mental health services earlier to seek help for his deteriorating mental health.
Desmond Jack, 33, was shot in the chest during a confrontation with police on his parents' property at Mooliabeenee, about 18 kilometres east of Gingin, during March 2019.
The Coroner's Court of WA was told two police officers attended the property after Mr Jack's mother called triple zero and said her son was having a mental breakdown.
Mother's evidence
The court heard Mr Jack's mother said he was taking gibberish and had locked himself in a flat on the property.
Counsel assisting the coroner Will Stops said that when police arrived at the scene, Mr Jack exited the flat, carrying a knife, before stopping and facing one of the officers.
He then began making stabbing motions before moving towards the officer, who yelled at him to stop and drop the knife.
However, Mr Jack continued to move towards the officer who fired his gun when he was about two or three metres away.
Drugs in system
A post-mortem examination found Mr Jack had traces of prescription medication, methylamphetamine and cannabis in his system.
The inquest heard he had a history of mental health and substance abuse issues, but the Wheatbelt Mental Health Service had found it difficult to engage with him and he had declined to be followed up by them.
The day before the shooting, Mr Stops said Mr Jack's sister contacted the service and expressed concern that he was manic and had stated that he was going to kill himself or someone else.
Mr Jack's mother had also contacted the service in the hours before the shooting to enquire about him being admitted to hospital.
At the time Mr Jack was asleep and the inquest heard it was decided during the conversation she would discuss with him, when he woke up, the possibility of going to hospital.
Services examined
Mr Stops said the inquest would examine the availability and provision of mental health services in the Wheatbelt region.
He also said it would look at whether the attending police officers had acted appropriately.
The court heard investigations were conducted by the police internal affairs unit and the homicide squad and both had found that the officer was justified in firing his gun.
