South Australia Police has issued a formal and unreserved apology to the family of Bonita Herewane, acknowledging significant failures in the investigation into her death 15 years ago.
A Long-Awaited Apology for Investigative Failures
SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens delivered the apology directly to Ms Herewane's family in Port Augusta. The apology centres on the initial police response to the discovery of the 23-year-old Aboriginal woman's body near a railway line in the town's west in September 2009.
The investigation was originally closed within 24 hours, with police concluding there were no suspicious circumstances. This swift conclusion has been a source of profound distress and anger for Ms Herewane's loved ones for over a decade and a half.
Coronial Inquest Uncovers Critical Flaws
The apology follows a recent coronial inquest into Ms Herewane's death. Deputy State Coroner Ian White presided over the inquiry, which scrutinised the original police handling of the case.
The inquest heard evidence that revealed critical shortcomings. Forensic evidence, including DNA, was not properly collected or analysed at the time. Furthermore, the Coroner found that potential witnesses were not adequately interviewed, and the scene was not secured or examined to a standard required for a unexplained death.
Commissioner Stevens stated the investigation "did not meet the standards that the community should expect, nor the standards SA Police demand of themselves." He explicitly apologised for the grief and suffering this inadequate investigation caused the family.
Family's Response and Lasting Impact
Bonita Herewane's sister, Bella Herewane, spoke to the media after receiving the apology. While acknowledging the apology was a "good first step," she emphasised that it could not erase 15 years of pain and unanswered questions.
"We have lived with this for so long, not knowing what really happened to Bonita," Ms Herewane said. The family has consistently maintained that Bonita's death was suspicious and deserved a thorough investigation from the outset.
The case has highlighted broader concerns about the treatment of missing and deceased First Nations people by authorities. Advocates have pointed to this case as an example of systemic failures that disproportionately affect Aboriginal communities.
The coroner's findings have prompted SA Police to review its procedures for investigating unexplained deaths. Commissioner Stevens assured the public and the Herewane family that lessons from this failure have been learned and integrated into current police practices.
While the official apology provides some measure of recognition, the coroner's inquest was ultimately unable to determine the exact circumstances of Bonita Herewane's death due to the passage of time and the initial investigative failures. For her family, the search for complete answers continues.
