A coronial inquest into the tragic Floreat murders will examine the medical care received by Mark Bombara before he fatally shot a mother and daughter in their Perth home in one of Western Australia's most shocking family violence-related cases.
During a pre-inquest hearing in the WA Coroners Court on Friday, Acting State Coroner Sarah Linton confirmed that the medical treatment Bombara received in the months leading up to the killings would be a key focus of the investigation.
Bombara, 62, murdered Jennifer Petelczyc and her 18-year-old daughter Gretl Petelczyc inside their Floreat home on 24 May 2024 before taking his own life.
Police investigations found Bombara had gone to the residence searching for his estranged wife, Rowena Bombara, and daughter, Ariel Bombara, who had previously raised concerns with authorities about his escalating behaviour and access to firearms.
The inquest is expected to explore several critical issues, including:
The medical care Bombara received before the murders, Whether opportunities existed for intervention, Police responses to reports made by family members, The operation of Western Australia's firearm licensing laws, and Broader family and domestic violence prevention measures.
Acting Coroner Linton told the court that an expert neurological report had been commissioned as part of preparations for the inquest.
While specific details of Bombara's medical history were not disclosed during Friday's hearing, representatives from both WA Police and the North Metropolitan Health Service attended proceedings, indicating the health aspects of the case will receive significant scrutiny.
The hearing also addressed concerns surrounding the actions taken by police before the murders occurred.
An internal WA Police investigation released in early 2025 found that eight officers had failed to properly discharge their duties when responding to earlier reports involving Bombara. Investigators concluded that available powers under the Restraining Orders Act and Firearms Act had not been fully exercised.
At the time of the killings, Bombara legally possessed 13 licensed firearms, despite family members having expressed fears for their safety. Following the tragedy, the Western Australian Government strengthened firearm legislation by introducing stricter mental health assessments, mandatory safety training and automatic firearm removal provisions linked to domestic violence complaints.
Lawyers representing Ariel Bombara indicated that police conduct remains an important issue for the family.
Ariel had repeatedly warned authorities that her father represented a serious threat, later publicly stating that those warnings had not been adequately acted upon.
The Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) has also conducted its own investigation into aspects of the case, particularly concerning Bombara's continued eligibility to hold firearm licences.
Acting Coroner Linton said it is hoped the full inquest will commence later this year, although exact dates have not yet been confirmed.
Another directions hearing has been scheduled for 17 July 2026 to address procedural matters before the inquest begins.
The proceedings are expected to examine whether systemic failures across healthcare, policing and family violence responses contributed to the circumstances that led to the deaths of Jennifer and Gretl Petelczyc.
For many in Western Australia, the inquest represents an opportunity not only to understand what happened but also to identify reforms that may help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
