Police ‘could have prevented’ home invader’s death, says family
The family of a home invader who suffered a heart attack after being detained by a resident claim police could have prevented his death.
They said a triple-zero operator should have done more to coach the scared homeowner through the ordeal.
Scott Heneker was on amphetamines and in a suspected paranoid delusion when he entered the home of his neighbours, Grant and Maryanne Glassmann, in the middle of the night.
Mr Glassmann tackled the 36 year old and then knelt on his chest, which triggered a heart attack. Mr Heneker died in hospital five days later.
During a triple-zero call, Mr Glassmann sounded panicked and out of breath as he said to the operator, “Quicky, quickly I've got this guy down but I can't keep him down… I've sort of got my knee on his face at the moment”.
“Tell them to hurry up, I can't hold him much longer. Please, please hurry.”
Detective Douglas McPherson told a coronial inquest that Mr Heneker entered the Reynella home at 1.30am with no shoes on and bleeding hands, after climbing over fences.
Mr Heneker had earlier been screaming in the street and behaving oddly, arranging knives outside his home.
The inquest heard police and the DPP later advised the Glassmann's that under law they had the right to use reasonable force to restrain a home invader and no charges would be laid.
The Heneker family's lawyer said the man did not need to die and pointed a finger at the trained police officer who took the triple-zero call, saying he should have coached Mr Glassmann on how to safely restrain the man.
She said his life might also have been saved if police hadn't taken 22 minutes to arrive at the scene.
News break – April 29
