The Osmington shooting was a familicide in Osmington, Western Australia, on 11 May 2018, in which Peter Miles, a 61-year-old retired high school farm manager, shot dead his wife, daughter, and four grandchildren, before calling police and then committing suicide.[2] It was the worst shooting incident in Australia since the Port Arthur massacre of 1996.[3][4]
Peter Miles worked in the farm school at Margaret River Senior High School for twenty years.[5] In 2015, he and his wife Cynda moved from the Margaret River townsite to a 12-hectare (30-acre) hobby farm in Osmington. Miles' daughter, Katrina, and her four children (Tay, 13; Rylan, 12; Arye, 10 and Kayden, 8) moved onto the property following the breakdown of her marriage, living in a renovated shed. Katrina believed the children were on the autism spectrum, and they were withdrawn from the local school in order to be home-schooled.[5]
According to Aaron Cockman, Katrina's estranged husband and father to the four children, the Miles family had a history of violence, mental illness and dysfunctional relationships. Peter was "estranged from his own mother and his father had tried to kill him". His son, Katrina's brother, burned down a shed during a family dispute and later committed suicide. Katrina had also "once threatened to kill herself and the children by driving into a tree".[6] Cockman stated that Peter paid an estimated $100,000 of his daughter's legal fees relating to their separation,[6] and that Peter and Cynda had prevented him from seeing his children for six months prior to the shootings.[7]
Investigationedit
Authorities arrived at the Miles' 30-acre farm in Osmington following a call to 000 at 5:15 am.[8] Peter (aged 61) was found outside the property deceased in a chair on the veranda, his wife Cynda (58) inside the main house. Their daughter, Katrina Cockman (35) and her four children were found inside a converted shed behind the main house that served as their residence.[9] Western Australia Police Commissioner Chris Dawson confirmed that three rifles were recovered at the property, all of which were licensed to Peter, and that police did not believe that anyone outside the residence was involved.[10]
Aaron Cockman held a press conference forty-eight hours after learning of the deaths, stating that he had been told by police that Peter first shot Katrina and her four children while they slept in their beds, before shooting his wife Cynda in the living room of their home. He then placed a two-minute 000 call to police[11] alerting them to the shootings, before committing suicide.[12]
On 17 May, Dawson confirmed that police had completed forensic work and that access to the property was returned to the family, but stated that the investigation would continue for several months.[13] A suicide note was also confirmed to have been found.[14] Peter was also found to be on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class antidepressants at the time of the incident.[15]
Aftermath and criticismedit
Cockman has criticised the Office of the State Coroner for its secrecy and unwillingness to provide information to him.[6]Ros Fogliani, the State Coroner, rejected his request for a public inquest to be held, stating that it was "not desirable" and that "all relevant lines of inquiry have been followed and that a coroner is now able to make the required findings about the deaths on the evidence that has already been obtained".[16] Cockman subsequently wrote to state attorney-general John Quigley reiterating his request for a public inquest.[6]
Cockman has stated his belief that the Family Court of Western Australia placed the Miles family "under intense financial and emotional pressure" prior to the killings,[6] and supports a royal commission into Australian family law.[16]
^Australian Police Identify Victims in Worst Mass Shooting Since 1996
^"Margret River murder-suicide: Seven people found dead at home near WA holiday town". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 11 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
^Hastie, Emma Young, Hamish (11 May 2018). "Death of Margaret River family sends 'shockwaves' throughout the nation". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 May 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Wolfe, Natalie; Brook, Benedict (14 May 2018). "Seven dead in mass WA tragedy". news.com.au. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
^ abCarmody, James (13 May 2018). "The mystery of the Miles family and a Margaret River murder-suicide that has shocked the world". ABC News. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
^ abcdeBerkovic, Nicola (23 May 2020). "Six shot dead: 'red flags' missed on killer grandfather Peter Miles". The Australian. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
^Whitbourn, Michaela; Cormack, Lucy (13 May 2018). "'Peter didn't snap. He thought this through': Father of shooting victims speaks". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
^Phillips, Kristine; Bever, Lindsey (13 May 2018). "Osmington, Australia, shooting: Peter Miles planned killings, father says". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
^Carmody, James (11 May 2018). "Margaret River reeling as mass shooting casts a dark pall over a tight-knit town". ABC News. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
^Cormack, Lucy (12 May 2018). "Margaret river shooting: Two-minute triple zero call key to murder-suicide". WA Today. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
^Cormack, Lucy (18 May 2018). "Margaret River shooting: Police investigation turns from who did this, to why". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
^Carnody, James (14 May 2018). "Margaret River murder-suicides: Peter Miles's Heartache blamed for unspeakable violence". ABC News. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
^Hickey, Phil (17 May 2018). "Osmington police investigation will go on for months: Commissioner". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
^"Father of murdered Magaret River family reveals suicide note". SBS News. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^ Paddenburg, Trevor (19 May 2018). "Depression drug clue to murders". PerthNow. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
^ abLaurie, Victoria (24 February 2020). "Father of slain Margaret River family shocked that inquest was rejected". The Australian. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
January 01, 1970
osmington, shooting, familicide, osmington, western, australia, 2018, which, peter, miles, year, retired, high, school, farm, manager, shot, dead, wife, daughter, four, grandchildren, before, calling, police, then, committing, suicide, worst, shooting, inciden. The Osmington shooting was a familicide in Osmington Western Australia on 11 May 2018 in which Peter Miles a 61 year old retired high school farm manager shot dead his wife daughter and four grandchildren before calling police and then committing suicide 2 It was the worst shooting incident in Australia since the Port Arthur massacre of 1996 3 4 Osmington shootingLocationOsmington Western Australia AustraliaCoordinates33 54 22 S 115 13 44 E 33 906 S 115 229 E 33 906 115 229Date11 May 2018 2018 05 11 c 4 00 am 5 00 am WST TargetMembers of the Miles Cockman familyAttack typeMurder suicide familicideWeaponsThree rifles 1 Deaths7 including the perpetrator PerpetratorPeter Miles Contents 1 Background 2 Investigation 3 Aftermath and criticism 4 See also 5 ReferencesBackground editPeter Miles worked in the farm school at Margaret River Senior High School for twenty years 5 In 2015 he and his wife Cynda moved from the Margaret River townsite to a 12 hectare 30 acre hobby farm in Osmington Miles daughter Katrina and her four children Tay 13 Rylan 12 Arye 10 and Kayden 8 moved onto the property following the breakdown of her marriage living in a renovated shed Katrina believed the children were on the autism spectrum and they were withdrawn from the local school in order to be home schooled 5 According to Aaron Cockman Katrina s estranged husband and father to the four children the Miles family had a history of violence mental illness and dysfunctional relationships Peter was estranged from his own mother and his father had tried to kill him His son Katrina s brother burned down a shed during a family dispute and later committed suicide Katrina had also once threatened to kill herself and the children by driving into a tree 6 Cockman stated that Peter paid an estimated 100 000 of his daughter s legal fees relating to their separation 6 and that Peter and Cynda had prevented him from seeing his children for six months prior to the shootings 7 Investigation editAuthorities arrived at the Miles 30 acre farm in Osmington following a call to 000 at 5 15 am 8 Peter aged 61 was found outside the property deceased in a chair on the veranda his wife Cynda 58 inside the main house Their daughter Katrina Cockman 35 and her four children were found inside a converted shed behind the main house that served as their residence 9 Western Australia Police Commissioner Chris Dawson confirmed that three rifles were recovered at the property all of which were licensed to Peter and that police did not believe that anyone outside the residence was involved 10 Aaron Cockman held a press conference forty eight hours after learning of the deaths stating that he had been told by police that Peter first shot Katrina and her four children while they slept in their beds before shooting his wife Cynda in the living room of their home He then placed a two minute 000 call to police 11 alerting them to the shootings before committing suicide 12 On 17 May Dawson confirmed that police had completed forensic work and that access to the property was returned to the family but stated that the investigation would continue for several months 13 A suicide note was also confirmed to have been found 14 Peter was also found to be on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class antidepressants at the time of the incident 15 Aftermath and criticism editCockman has criticised the Office of the State Coroner for its secrecy and unwillingness to provide information to him 6 Ros Fogliani the State Coroner rejected his request for a public inquest to be held stating that it was not desirable and that all relevant lines of inquiry have been followed and that a coroner is now able to make the required findings about the deaths on the evidence that has already been obtained 16 Cockman subsequently wrote to state attorney general John Quigley reiterating his request for a public inquest 6 Cockman has stated his belief that the Family Court of Western Australia placed the Miles family under intense financial and emotional pressure prior to the killings 6 and supports a royal commission into Australian family law 16 See also edit nbsp Crime portal nbsp Australia portal List of mass shootings in Australia Timeline of major crimes in AustraliaReferences edit Australian Police Identify Victims in Worst Mass Shooting Since 1996 Margret River murder suicide Seven people found dead at home near WA holiday town ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation 11 May 2018 Retrieved 14 May 2018 Hastie Emma Young Hamish 11 May 2018 Death of Margaret River family sends shockwaves throughout the nation The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 11 May 2018 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Wolfe Natalie Brook Benedict 14 May 2018 Seven dead in mass WA tragedy news com au Retrieved 11 May 2018 a b Carmody James 13 May 2018 The mystery of the Miles family and a Margaret River murder suicide that has shocked the world ABC News Retrieved 23 May 2020 a b c d e Berkovic Nicola 23 May 2020 Six shot dead red flags missed on killer grandfather Peter Miles The Australian Retrieved 23 May 2020 Whitbourn Michaela Cormack Lucy 13 May 2018 Peter didn t snap He thought this through Father of shooting victims speaks The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 13 May 2018 Phillips Kristine Bever Lindsey 13 May 2018 Osmington Australia shooting Peter Miles planned killings father says The Washington Post Retrieved 14 May 2018 Carmody James 11 May 2018 Margaret River reeling as mass shooting casts a dark pall over a tight knit town ABC News Retrieved 29 April 2023 Cormack Lucy 12 May 2018 Margaret river shooting Two minute triple zero call key to murder suicide WA Today Retrieved 14 May 2018 Cormack Lucy 18 May 2018 Margaret River shooting Police investigation turns from who did this to why The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 22 May 2018 Carnody James 14 May 2018 Margaret River murder suicides Peter Miles s Heartache blamed for unspeakable violence ABC News Retrieved 14 May 2018 Hickey Phil 17 May 2018 Osmington police investigation will go on for months Commissioner The Canberra Times Retrieved 17 May 2018 Father of murdered Magaret River family reveals suicide note SBS News 18 June 2018 Retrieved 15 July 2018 Paddenburg Trevor 19 May 2018 Depression drug clue to murders PerthNow Retrieved 8 September 2020 a b Laurie Victoria 24 February 2020 Father of slain Margaret River family shocked that inquest was rejected The Australian Retrieved 23 May 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Osmington shooting amp oldid 1222129397, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
