Navy wrongly gave Kate Malonyay's killer Elliott Coulson a military funeral, FOI documents reveal

Updated

The Royal Australian Navy wrongly provided a military funeral to a seaman who murdered his former girlfriend, an official briefing note obtained by Lateline under freedom of information has revealed.

In April 2013, Elliott Coulson strangled Kate Malonyay in her Sydney apartment after she had ended their relationship over his aggressive and controlling behaviour.

Coulson then fled to the Gold Coast and took his own life by falling from a hotel balcony while being pursued by police.

Documents obtained under FOI by Lateline reveal Coulson was in fact not entitled to receive a military funeral because he was absent without leave (AWOL) — a Defence Force offence.

The 32-year-old had left his post at HMAS Darwin at Garden Island in Sydney after killing Ms Malonyay and was reported as AWOL.

According to a yet-to-be-released Senate Estimates brief prepared for the Chief of Navy, Coulson's family was "incorrectly" told of the entitlement by Defence social workers.

"Funeral support does not extend to members who are AWOL," it said.

"The (Defence Community Organisation) Bereavement Support Team during a meeting with (Seaman) Coulson's family on 25 April 2013 incorrectly informed the family of an entitlement to a Service funeral if requested. The family requested such a funeral."

Despite this apparent oversight and Ms Malonyay's murder, the Navy went ahead with the service.

"He was a murderer, [absent] without leave," Ms Malonyay's mother Wendy told Lateline.

"He murdered my daughter. Isn't that enough to say he shouldn't receive a full military funeral?"

Coulson's funeral cost taxpayers $13,146

The Navy also allowed more than double the minimum number of personnel to participate in the service, after the Coulson family asked the Bereavement Support Team and the Commanding Officer of HMAS Darwin for "as much Navy input as possible".

Initially the Coulson family was allowed a minimum uniformed presence of three to four people, but following their specific request 10 members were provided, including eight coffin bearers, one Officer In Charge and one official mourner.

Coulson's funeral was held on the same day as Kate Malonyay's burial, "regrettably … which was not known to Navy at the time."

The Navy briefing note also revealed the total cost of Coulson's funeral to taxpayers was $13,146.

One of Kate Malonyay's close friends told Lateline the money should be paid back or donated to a domestic violence charity.

"It's a stab in the heart for Kate's family and friends," Sally Stevens said.

It has been two and a half years since Ms Malonyay's murder and the Navy has only recently acknowledged the distress caused to her family and friends.

In November last year, Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett quietly posted a written apology on a Navy website in response to a public outcry, and in December he paid a personal visit to Wendy Malonyay's home on the New South Wales Central Coast.

They've realised they've made a huge mistake. They've got to change. It shouldn't have happened and it should never happen again. Wendy Malonyay

The Chief of Navy at the time of Ms Malonyay's death, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, now Vice Chief of the Defence Force, has also written to Wendy Malonyay.

In a letter obtained by Lateline, he wrote "I can assure you the intent was to support the Coulson family and not to honour the actions of the individual; actions that were abhorrent."

"I appreciate the distress this has caused and that while Navy responded publicly at the time in 2013, I accept that it has taken too long to respond to you personally."

Vice Admiral Griggs said Ms Malonyay's murder had "bolstered my personal resolve to take Navy on the White Ribbon accreditation journey leading to accreditation in June 2014".

The Navy is now Australia's largest organisation accredited by the White Ribbon domestic violence campaign.

Vice Admiral Barrett and the Coulson family declined to comment, however the Defence Department said "[funeral] support was offered before it was known that the member was AWOL. As the [Coulson] family already had been offered support the decision was made to maintain that commitment."

The Navy has amended its policy to ensure personnel who are absent without leave do not receive military funerals.

Last week, Wendy Malonyay went to Garden Island to meet Vice Admiral Barrett and members of the Navy, telling them how the Navy's actions had worsened her grief.

"They've realised they've made a huge mistake. They've got to change. It shouldn't have happened and it should never happen again." she said.

Watch the full report on Lateline tonight at 9:30pm (AEDT) on ABC News 24 or 10:30pm on ABC TV.

Timeline: How the Navy dealt with a murder

April 17, 2013

Kate Malonyay is murdered by Elliott Coulson in her Mosman apartment sometime between April 17 and 19. In the days following her death, Coulson impersonated Ms Malonyay, using her phone to text her family and friends. He then fled to the Gold Coast and used her credit card to book a flight and later a hotel room.

AWOL

April 20, 2013

Coulson is reported as AWOL from HMAS Darwin at Sydney's Garden Island base.

Death at the Marriott

April 24, 2013

Police storm Coulson's room at the Marriott Hotel on the Gold Coast to arrest him. Coulson falls to his death from the 26th floor.

Family meeting

April 25, 2013

The Defence Community Organisation wrongly tells Coulson's family of an entitlement to a military funeral.

Funerals held

May 3, 2013

Coulson and Ms Malonyay's funerals are held on the same day. Ten Navy personnel are involved in Coulson's funeral.

Suicide finding

November 4, 2013

The Queensland Coroner finds Coulson committed suicide.

White Ribbon accreditation

June 11, 2014

The Navy becomes the largest organisation to receive accreditation from the domestic violence charity White Ribbon.

Coroner's finding

August 29, 2014

New South Wales Coroner finds Kate Malonyay died of asphyxiation and blunt force trauma by Coulson.

Hitting Home

November 24, 2015

The ABC's Hitting Home documentary highlights Kate Malonyay's case; a change.org petition demands a Navy apology, attracting more than 10,000 supporters.

Navy apology

November 27, 2015

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett posts apology on the Navy Daily website. In an interview with Lateline, Wendy Malonyay reveals she has had no contact from Chief of Navy Tim Barrett. Vice Admiral Barrett later meets with Ms Malonyay to personally apologise

Topics: navy, defence-and-national-security, domestic-violence, suicide, murder-and-manslaughter, sydney-2000, nsw

First posted