A tragic incident in South Australia led to the death of 36-year-old Michelle Foster, a mother of two, who was fatally attacked in 2018 by 25-year-old Jayden Tanee Lowah, a man with a serious mental illness. Following an inquest, Deputy State Coroner Naomi Kereru concluded that Lowah’s mental health issues were not adequately addressed prior to the incident, contributing to his violent behaviour.
Lowah had been diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 15 and had a history of aggressive threats, including earlier random attacks in 2017 which resulted in his imprisonment. However, he was released in September 2018, just weeks before the attack on Foster. A social worker had assessed him as being at “high risk of reoffending,” citing concerning behavioural traits such as impulsivity and poor frustration tolerance.
The day after his release, Lowah sought medical help, stating he felt he could “probably kill someone.” Yet, he was discharged into the community, a decision that the coroner described as “fundamentally flawed,” especially in light of Foster’s subsequent death. This oversight highlighted the failures within the mental health system regarding his care and supervision post-release.
The inquest revealed the dire circumstances of Lowah being in a psychotic state and able to attack Foster. Coroner Kereru remarked on the critical need to evaluate how Lowah was allowed to be unsupervised in the community given his dangerous mental state. In light of the findings, Andrea Foster, Michelle’s mother, expressed her belief that the system failed both her daughter and Lowah, as the latter was not fit for reintegration into society.
While Andrea acknowledged the anger she felt towards Lowah at first, she later recognised that systemic issues contributed to the tragedy. Kereru suggested that in order to enhance public safety, the legislation around high-risk offenders should be reviewed to allow for better control of individuals deemed a significant threat to the community.
Throughout the inquest, various witnesses highlighted the deficiencies in the mental health system, with calls for improved resources to manage individuals in crisis effectively. An experienced police officer noted the stark difference in mental health care today compared to 43 years ago, expressing frustration over the lack of adequate facilities for crisis intervention.
Ultimately, the coroner’s findings underscored the necessity of addressing the systemic gaps in mental health management to prevent further tragedies, advocating for a broader legal framework to define and manage high-risk offenders effectively.