A THREAT of serious harm was made in a triple-0 call placed from a West Wyalong home last December, but when police finally arrived more than an hour later a man was dead.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Kenneth Wayne Parker, 50, was allegedly stabbed to death by his wife, Marianne Parker, about an hour after a triple-0 call was made from the couple's house on December 16 last year.
The call was placed at 6.35pm, but police did not arrive at the house until about 7.45pm.
The Police Integrity Commission's (PIC) latest annual report, released this week, has for the first time revealed the circumstances behind the triple-0 call made from the house in the lead-up to the fatal stabbing of Kenneth Wayne Parker.
"Operation Gazania is an ongoing investigation focused on the delayed response by NSW Police Force officers to a threat of serious harm, which was followed by a fatal stabbing during a domestic dispute in regional NSW," the report said.
Operation Gazania is investigating the handling of the incident by NSW Police, with its inquiries still ongoing.
Ms Parker is currently before the courts charged with her husband's murder and her case will next be heard on January 27 in Griffith Local Court.
The report on Operation Gazania confirmed issues with the police force's radio network were being investigated as part of the probe.
"The investigation has also involved an examination of technical issues relating to the NSW Police Force radio communications network within regional NSW," the report said.
When NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione visited Wagga in late February, he all but ruled out a technical problem as being behind the bungle.
"I have made inquiries with my assistant commissioner in charge of communications and he has assured me that from their analysis there doesn't appear to be a problem (with the communications system)," he said at the time.
However, when the incident first came to light earlier that month, the southern region executive member of the NSW Police Association, Mick Connor, said there were significant issues with the system.
"We've been having problems with radio dropping out and having no communications between cars, stations and police radio," he said.
Mr Connor said in February the communications issues had been going on for a number of years and police were aware of it.
