Queensland’s grandmother, Doreen Langham, was murdered alongside her ex-partner Gary Hely in a house fire she had set on fire in February 2021.
Now the 49-year-old’s daughters are talking about the failures shown by the police and what they believe needs to be changed, to make sure it never happens again.
“We have to remember that two lives were lost that were not supposed to be,” Langham’s daughter Tabitha Bleys said.
Shayne Probert and Tabitha Bleys. (A topical issue)
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“He did everything he could do … they still failed him,” his other daughter Shayne Probert said.
Langham had gone to the police several times, received a domestic violence order and had her lock and phone changed, but she was still murdered.
An open relationship
Langham’s daughters said her mother had been living in Western Australia, but had moved to Queensland to be closer to her grandchildren.
Her new partner, Hely, came with her.
The couple began to quarrel, which Langham downplayed his family, but as things deteriorated, the grandmother tried to end the relationship.
Then, Hely’s behavior began to increase.
Doreen Langham (middle) was mother and grandmother. (A topical issue)
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“She said to me,‘ I sent a message to two friends and I’ll just let you know, we got into a fight this morning, she found out I have a new phone and number so I can’t. get in touch with me … and he almost turned around and said enjoy your last three weeks, ”Probert said.
The police were called
Langham then fled to a friend’s house and, at the insistence of his daughters, called the police.
Gary Hely and Doreen Langham. (A topical issue)
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“He said, ‘I better enjoy my life because it’s already paid off … I could be boned, I could be (a) sniper shot,” so I laughed when he said that … or I could hit but enjoy -ne in the next three weeks, “Langham could be heard telling police in camera footage of the police force.
At that point, the police officer noted down the complaint, as Langham repeatedly told them about the threat to his life.
He added, “He sneaked into my room at night and took pictures of me while I slept and then sent them to me and then told me how calm I am.”
Queensland’s grandmother, Doreen Langham, spoke to police. (A topical issue)
But it looked like the police didn’t take it seriously and told her it was better for her to ask for her own DVO, rather than for them to take one out for her.
“Right now, what I see is that you’ve had an argument, I don’t see that you’re hurt, you’re calm, you look happy, you’re here with your teammates,” police were heard telling Langham.
“She thought what she was telling them was being watched and she had been taken seriously,” Probert said.
A DVO was notified and raped
Langham requested his own DVO the next day and Hely was called to the police station to receive the documentation.
The interaction at that moment was re-captured on camera.
Shayne Probert. (A topical issue)
“There’s never been any violence, she’s never had to fear for her safety … I’ve known her for 33 years, she’s my sister’s best friend,” Hely could be heard telling police.
And then she said, “I’m not happy to leave because I love her … she’s finished it and I’ve had to pack my things and now we have to go our separate ways.”
At that point you could hear the police response with, “as long as you understand all this, you should be fine.”
But then Hely got out of control and days later Langham called the police at his home after he had already breached the DVO several times.
Gary Hely. (A topical issue)
Langham re-detailed his fear and concern to police, but not a single police officer attempted to locate Hely.
Instead, an officer told Grandma he was coming to report the infractions too often.
“She had told us, ‘They said they put them all together because you’re there so often.’ Isn’t that an alarm bell?” said Probert.
Five days later, he called triple zero to report that Hely was out.
Police took four hours to respond.
They knocked on the door once and then left when she did not answer, but the next morning Grandma was dead.
Doreen Langham spoke to police again. (A topical issue)
She is believed to have been ambushed by Hely when she left early for work.
They dragged her with gasoline and then set her on fire.
The house exploded in flames, which claimed the lives of Langham and Hely.
An investigation finds errors
In March, a week-long investigation revealed the calamity of the police errors that led to Langham’s death.
Everyone at Langham spoke to 16 police officers the days before his murder.
Doreen Langham was killed alongside her ex-partner Gary Hely in a house fire she had set on fire in February 2021. (A Current Affair)
The coroner felt that the police were simply insufficiently trained to deal with domestic violence.
Former Deputy Police Commissioner Clem O’Regan told the court the police did less than the minimum and said, “It’s a great tragedy.”
For Langham’s daughters, the investigation revealed more flaws than they expected.
The sisters now want a review of DV training in the police force and want more help for DV victims of the investigation, including more services like Defenders Of Hope, which was created by Langham’s friend Kathy Smith .
“She would love what we did for her in her honor,” Smith said.
The charity runs an operations store, which helps fund programs and support DV victims.
If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT at 1800 737 732 or visit their website. In an emergency, call 000.
Or, if you need someone to talk to about domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT or visit the White Ribbon Australia website. In an emergency, call 000.
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