Anna Sjostrand inquest hears from her family in Sweden

Ms Sjostrand, 36, drowned in Columbo Creek at Morundah on November 13, 2011.

An inquest into her death is being held in Wagga following inconsistencies in accounts of how she came to drown given by her husband, Shaun Hannocks.

A statement by Ms Sjostrand’s parents, Eva and Staffan, on behalf of their family said that at the beginning of 2011 Anna’s relationship with her husband had collapsed and they had arranged for their daughter and her son, Arjuna, to return to Sweden.

“After some time, Anna told us told us her wish was to remain in Sweden together with Arjuna and also to apply to become the sole legal guardian of her son,” said the statement, read to the inquest on the family’s behalf as they watched in Sweden via Skype.

“Anna was not going to deny her husband to have contact with Arjuna and she realised this had to be a mutual agreement between two parents. This was the reason for her and Arjuna to go to Australia.”

(See the family’s full statement below)

The inquest earlier heard that Ms Sjostrand arrived in Australia on November 3, 2011, and three days later was whisked off to Adelaide by Mr Hannocks, who had been displaying bizarre behaviour for weeks before.

After leaving Adelaide some time before November 11, the family arrived at Morundah after driving all night and were directed to Columbo Creek by a resident when they asked for a place to rest.

Mr Hannocks told police his wife drowned after suffering an epileptic seizure while the three swam, but has given two different accounts.

One version said he struggled to get Ms Sjostrand out of the water and placed her on the slippery creek bank, and while he left the scene to get help she fell back into the water.

The other version was she disappeared under water as he took Arjuna to safety because he could not look after both at the same time.

The inquest has been told Ms Sjostrand drowned in slow-moving water about 1.5 metres deep.

The inquest on Wednesday heard Ms Sjostrand was an epileptic, but neurologist Professor Roy Beran said the seizure as described by Mr Hannocks – lasting five to 10 minutes – was implausible, and the type of seizure she suffered from in the past lasted 30 seconds to a minute, and usually in her sleep.

He said there had been instances of epileptics drowning in shallow bath water, and sufferers of the illness were warned about the risk of drowning.

Professor Beran watched a police video in which Mr Hannocks flayed his arms around to describe his wife’s seizure.

The professor said that movement was not consistent with Ms Sjostrand’s past seizures.

Forensic pathologist, Dr Stephen Wills, was asked questions by counsel assisting the inquest, Ian Bourke SC, about bruising the doctor noted on Ms Sjostrand during the autopsy he conducted on her body.

There was bruising and abrasions to both knees, bruising to her jaw just below the right ear, bruising to both sides of the neck and bruising to the left forearm and both upper arms.

Dr Wills was not able to say if the bruising could have been the result of a struggle, happened after Ms Sjostrand went under water or even when she was being lifted out of the creek either by Mr Hannocks or when her body was removed from the water by rescuers.

He said he did not think forceful pressure had been applied to Ms Sjostrand’s neck, but agreed some pressure may have been applied.

‘Is it, however, possible that these signs on the neck could be consistent with holding a person under water?” Mr Bourke asked.

“It’s possible, yes,” Dr Wills replied.

“It would be fair to say you cannot exclude the possibility there might have been some assault involving Anna, for example being held under water?” Mr Bourke asked.

“No, I cannot exclude that possibility,” Dr Wills said.

“If she was held under water, would you have expected more injuries?” Mr Bourke asked.

“I can’t answer that question, it could be more, it could be less,” Dr Wills said.

Witness accounts of Mr Hannock’s seemingly uncaring attitude during the search for Ms Sjostrand were addressed by psychiatrist Dr Matthew Large.

He said Mr Hannocks was schizophrenic, and a characteristic of the illness was a lack of empathy and emotion.

He said the behaviour of people with schizophrenia was often difficult for others to understand.

Dr Large said he would not read too much into Mr Hannock’s outburts of anger before and after Ms Sjostrand’s drowning.

Asked to comment on Mr Hannock’s description of his wife’s seizure in the creek, Dr Large said Mr Hannocks was “a long way from being a neurologist”.

Dr Large said if Mr Hannocks had a psychopathic disorder he would have had a more extensive history (of violence).

In relation to the possibility Mr Hannocks left his wife in a vulnerable position on the slippery creek bank, Dr Large said he suspected if that happened it was a poor call as a result of poor forward thinking and planning, another characteristic of schizophrenia.

“So people with schizophrenia have difficulty in making sensible choices?” Mr Bourke asked.

“Yes, they were the words I would use,” Dr Large said.

The inquest also heard Mr Hannocks indicated to authorities a couple of months ago that he expected to be in Nepal around now but planned to come to Australia for his wife’s inquest.

But nothing has been heard from him since.

The inquest heard Australian authorities had offered to pay for Mr Hannock’s flights to Australia and accommodation during the inquest.

The inquest continues on Thursday with Mr Bourke presenting his closing submission to coroner Megan Greenwood.

Ms Greenwood is expected to deliver her findings on Friday.

The full statement by Anna Sjostrand’s family:

“Anna was an extrovert, a ‘happy’ person full of energy.

“She was very active in different sports, such as horse-back riding, skiing and swimming where she also competed.

“Anna enjoyed also music and she was a talented singer who also wrote/composed her own songs.

“After finishing high school she went abroad, starting with USA and after some time arrived in Australia where she studied at the Lismore university.

“Even when she was living abroad and far from Sweden she was always caring for her family and kept a close and regular contact.

“In the beginning of 2011 Anna’s relationship with her husband had collapsed.

“She was in a desperate condition when she called us and we arranged for her and Arjuna to come to Sweden immediately.

“After some time Anna told us that her wish was to remain in Sweden together with Arjuna and also to apply to become the sole legal guardian of her son.

“Anna was not going to deny her husband to have contact with Arjuna and she realised that this had to be a mutual arrangement between the parents.

“This was the reason for her and Arjuna to go to Australia.

“Her last words to us were: ‘We will soon be back!’

“To lose a child is the most terrible experience any parent can undergo.

“The message we received on November 13^th will forever remain with us.

“We now, however, understand that a sorrow that is shared between many makes the sorrow easier to carry for the individual.

“Our experience is that the difficult process of mourning will be relieved.

“We would, in this context, like to thank the State of Australia and all of the representatives whom we have had contact with for their professionalism, endurance and empathy.”