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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Ben Smee

Police failed to act on repeated warnings about a violent man before he killed a toddler. But that’s not the most shocking thing about this case

Two Queensland police officers in high-visibility vests stand with their backs to the camera
‘The QPS has continually responded to concerns about its actions in historical cases by stating that it has addressed cultural issues.’ Photograph: Darren England/AAP

Nine months before the death of the toddler Mason Jet Lee, a woman called police to warn them about the boy’s killer, William Andrew O’Sullivan. They placed a flag on his file labelling the woman’s claims “vexatious”. But that’s not the most shocking part of this story.

Police already had evidence O’Sullivan was suicidal and homicidal. Months earlier they’d gone with him to a hospital, seeking mental health treatment, and while there he threatened to “skin” the woman and kill children. But that’s also not the most alarming thing.

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