Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following article contains details of violence against and a name of a person who has died.
On Monday, a 17-year-old boy was charged with grievous bodily harm following the alleged attack and subsequent death of 30-year-old Noongar woman Diane Miller.
After spending a day with her husband, Philip Edmonds, two nieces and 8-month-old son, Lloyde, at the local swimming pool, the family went to dinner at Waterford Shopping Centre in Karawara. Police allege an argument broke out in the shopping centre car park between Edmonds, who was driving, and around 15 teenagers. Soon after violence erupted and a concrete block was thrown through the passenger car window, striking Miller in the head and causing her to go into cardiac arrest. Miller was five-months pregnant.
While waiting for an ambulance, bystanders spent 20 minutes attempting to resuscitate Diane Miller, before St John Ambulance took her to Royal Perth Hospital.
After spending three days in hospital, Miller, and her unborn child, passed away on Friday, December 2 from the injuries sustained during the attack.
Edmonds' aunty, Stolen Generations survivor and prominent Aboriginal activist, Angela Ryder, told The Guardian her nephew is traumatised and overwhelmed by the events. “They had only just moved into their house in Karawara a few days before the incident.”
The senseless death of Diane Miller comes less than two months after the murder of 15-year-old Noongar boy, Cassius Turvey and WA Greens Senator and Yamatji-Noongar woman, Dorinda Cox, told the ABC Miller's death was taking an emotional toll on the Indigenous community. Cox also pointed out the timing of the violence, which occurred during the WA state government's '16 Days in WA' campaign to stop violence against women.
As it stands the 17-year-old boy who was charged by police is yet to make a plea, and will be remanded in custody until December 9. It is unclear whether police intend to upgrade his charge following Miller's death.
Per the ABC, Philip Edmonds said of his wife, "She had a wicked attitude, I loved her. We all loved her as one and it's brought us together. That's my baby girl and that was my baby inside," he said.
Where to donate
With Edmonds' permission, Ryder has set up a Go Fund Me account to raise funds for Diane Miller and her unborn baby's funeral. Any leftover funds will then be set aside for potential future legal costs, and will also be deposited into a trust for baby Lloyde. At the time of writing, Ryder has raised more than $45,000 in donations.
