The worker wanted to know why, if health professionals were able to recommend a driver’s license suspension, the same could not have occurred with his gun license.
“He was appearing volatile, which can be an impairment of a brain injury, and he also had a 10-centimetre cyst in his brain that pushes against brain tissue,” they said.
“We need mandatory reporting, and improved ability to assess risk – we need to know if people have firearms.”
Health worker
“That had only been identified in the past couple of months and these sort of things build up over time. He was a very unwell man.”
The worker said Bombara first suffered a transient ischemic attack – a mini-stroke – in January, which he was admitted to hospital for. He was admitted again just weeks ago after suffering another similar episode, and ward staff noted then that he was being aggressive and intimidating.
They also claimed a member of Bombara’s family told staff his behaviour had “dramatically changed” in the months leading up to the deaths of the Petelczyc women and his own suicide.
An occupational therapist conducted a home visit as part of his outpatient care and noted concerning behaviour.
“Had [anyone] known he had 13 guns at his house, [they] never would have sent [the therapist] there, or precautions would have been taken,” the worker said.
“This man was not of sound mind,” the worker said.
“He may have been more irritable, more depressed. He might have been more aggressive and had fewer inhibitions depending on the area of the brain affected.”
The worker said information could be shared on the electronic My Health system, which would alert health professionals if a person who was exhibiting concerning behaviours as a result of brain injury was a licensed gun holder.
“I get the point the daughter is making that if he wanted to do harm he would have [with or without a gun] but his brain was not functioning properly. He would not be making good decisions. This should be included in this gun law reform debate,” the worker said.
Jenny Petelczyc and her daughter Gretl making a Tiktok video together.Credit: TikTok
“We need mandatory reporting and improved ability to assess risk – we need to know if people have firearms, as we often visit their homes.”
The worker said there were many patients who struggled to make decisions, deal with emotions and control aggression when they had this type of brain injury.
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“The Health Department knew about this and discharged him with the daily and allied health professionals saying he is not right, and now there are two people dead.”
On Tuesday, WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said a full internal investigation would be launched into the Floreat deaths, which would run concurrently with a coroner’s investigation, but Liberal leader Libby Mettam said that wasn’t good enough.
She wrote to the CCC requesting an independent inquiry.
If you are experiencing mental health issues, contact LifeLine WA on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467, or the MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978.