news

Her car was forced off the road. Then he allegedly beat her with a metal plate.

Tragic news on the Gold Coast.

Warning: this post deals with domestic violence and may be triggering for some readers. 

Update:  The young mother involved in an allegedly deliberate crash and bashing on Tuesday morning in Brisbane has died succumbing to her injuries.

24-year old Tara Brown, the mother of a three-year old girl, died surrounded by family overnight after they made the heartbreaking decision to turn off her life support.

Her partner ex-bikie Lionel Patea has now been charged with her murder. He was also charged with one count each of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and contravene a domestic violence order.

Police have said that the domestic violence order was taken out by Ms Brown just last week.

The Courier Mail reports that on Thursday she asked police to help her fearing for her safety and showed them text messages from Mr. Patea but was told to seek help elsewhere.

The Courier Mail reports that police are now investigating that advice.

“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,” an official statement said.

Friends have paid tribute to the young mother on social media.

 

Mamamia previously reported:

A young mother is on life support after a shocking domestic violence attack on the Gold Coast.

ADVERTISEMENT

Following it was a white jeep that allegedly began ramming the woman’s car, a car with a stroller clearly visible in the back and children’s toys.

One resident told The Gold Coast Bulletin: “There was a massive car bang, and when it came down off the retaining wall and landed down on its roof and up on its side — there was just a lot of screaming.”

She was hanging upside down while he beat her.

Terrified residents then saw a man allegedly approach the vehicle with what some say was an iron implement — others say was a brick — and begin bashing the woman hanging upside down in the car.

“I could see the guy that had come across the road and just absolutely beat her,” one resident said.

“The lady who lives next door was just screaming.

“She was saying, ‘He’s just murdered her in front of me — I can’t believe it’.

“It was horrible.”

Tara Brown with Lionel Patea’s sister, Jessica Palmer.

Another neighbour told The Gold Coast Bulletin the cars had been travelling at over 100km per hour before they came screeching to a stop.

“The man got out and bashed the woman with a steel plate — it looked like the cap off a fire hydrant… One of the neighbours grabbed him and tried to get him off her,” the resident said.

“There was the pram in the back and all the toys which is why we were worried if there were any kids at the start.

“The car was on its side and her condition was terrible — if someone takes to you with a steel plate it’s not good.”

ADVERTISEMENT
” if someone takes to you with a steel plate it’s not good.”

Ted Harding, who ran to the scene from his home. told The Courier-Mail that he heard a “loud crunching sound, like a really bad car crash”.

He said his neighbour saw a man hitting the woman with a piece of metal.

“There was nothing we could do for her,”

“There was nothing we could do for her,” Mr Harding said. “She was laying upside-down inside the car with her legs through the steering wheel. She was gasping pretty badly by then. I think she was in dire straits. Coming in and out of consciousness.”

The man police allege may be responsible for the attack is Lionel Patea, a “retired” Bandidos sergeant-at-arms who was involved in the 2013 Broadbeach bikie brawl.

Patea avoided jail time over the brawl after pleading guilty to a downgraded charge of causing a public nuisance.

The Courier Mail reports there is a “significant history” of domestic violence ­between couple, who have a three-year old daughter.

After locals pulled Patea off his partner, he ran — stealing a council worker’s ute that was parked nearby.

Less than an hour later, police confirmed the former Ban­dido turned himself in to Coomera Police Station with what appeared to be severe self-inflicted puncture wounds to his chest and neck.

“It’s obviously a ferocious attack – it’s very sad to see this level of domestic violence,” Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Procter said.

It is expected that Lionel Patea will be charged later this morning.

For Domestic Violence help 24/7, call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).