Murdered Gold Coast woman Tara Brown had gone to police for advice

Tara Brown, the 24-year-old mother from Gold coast, who succumbed to her injuries inflicted upon her by her long-time partner, Lionel Patea, on Wednesday, allegedly went to the Southport police station a week before the murder. She was reportedly seeking advice on how to end the relationship with Patea but was turned away and asked to go elsewhere.

The car Brown was driving was allegedly rammed by Patea and pushed off the road while she was trying to escape from him on Tuesday. Patea then reportedly beat her ferociously with a piece of steel while she was still stuck in the cramped vehicle. After police reached the spot, she was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital.

Patea, who was initially charged with attempt to murder, has now been charged with murder. Police also revealed that the advice given to Brown a week earlier at the Southport police station has been put under investigation as well.

“The appropriateness of the police response has been reported to the Queensland Police Service Ethical Standards Command and is currently being investigated by a senior officer,” the official statement said.

According to reports, Brown visited the police station on Sep. 3 along with friends and showed her text messages to them. But the police sent her back without any advice, according to a friend.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said a Queensland Police Service Ethical Standards Command investigation would investigate why Brown was asked to leave without offering a proper advice.

A friend of the young mother described her as an intelligent and strong woman who wanted to end her relationship with Patea, allegedly a sergeant-at-arms in the Bandidos bikie gang.

“This (breakup) was a long time coming,” the Gold Coast Bulletin quoted the woman friend as saying. “She was very intelligent, very smart girl. She was also very strong.”

Patea was charged at a bedside court hearing at the Gold Coast University Hospital, where he was admitted with purportedly self-inflicted knife injuries. He was later transferred to a secured ward in a hospital in Brisbane.

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