A Northern Territory police officer is expected to face court today over a charge that he allegedly failed to call for medical help for his partner, who died as a result of head injuries two years ago.
The officer, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with 'fail to rescue' earlier this year but police gave no information about the circumstances of the matter at the time.
The ABC has confirmed the charge is related to the March, 2020, death of the officer's partner, who was referred to as "HD" during a coronial inquest into her death last year.
The Northern Territory coroner found HD died from a subdural haemorrhage — when blood collects between the skull and the surface of the brain — in "the context of chronic alcoholism due to post traumatic stress disorder after the death of her first-born child".
She was declared deceased at the Royal Darwin Hospital about 12 hours after she showed signs of "hallucinating", the inquest heard.
Then coroner Greg Cavenagh referred the woman's death back to police and prosecutors, reporting that he believed "offences may have been committed" in connection with HD's death.
He did not make findings about the cause of the woman's head injuries. The inquest heard they were likely from a form of trauma to the head "either due to falling or from another person".
The haemorrhage had started bleeding three to five days before HD's death, the inquest heard.
A significant focus of the inquest was the repeated reports of disturbances and violence made to NT Police over the five years before HD died.
Mr Cavenagh noted evidence from an assistant police commissioner, who said "red flags" for coercive control had not been picked up by police.
The officer did not give evidence at the inquest.
A local court judge is yet to decide if the officer will be committed to stand trial for the charge in the NT Supreme Court.
Today's court mention is expected to be brief and procedural.
NT Police said the officer had been suspended with pay.
