Floreat murders reveal fatal flaw in WA gun laws, inquest told

The murders of Jennifer Petelcyzc and her teenage daughter Gretl in their Perth home revealed a fatal flaw in Western Australia's gun licence renewal system, a coronial inquest has heard. The mother and daughter were shot dead by Mark Bombara, 62, who went to their Floreat home in May 2024 — armed with two Glock pistols — looking for his estranged wife, Rowena. Bombara owned 13 licensed guns, most on recreational licences, and the two Glocks on a collector's licence.But the inquest heard he should not have been able to renew the handgun licences after a change to the law in 2005. A heavy police presence in Floreat, the day after the murders. (ABC News: Julian Robins)'Glock enthusiast'WA Police Superintendent Mark Gilbert said Bombara licensed the weapons in 2004, on a collector's licence for sentimental reasons, and in his application the gunman described himself as a "Glock enthusiast"."Nothing comes close to the satisfaction I have in the handling, cleaning, stripping down, and where possible firing my Glock handgun," the letter read.But a legal change 12 months later removed 'sentimental value' as a valid reason for holding a licence, meaning Bombara should not have been able to renew his licence.Flowers were left outside the home in Floreat in the days after the murders. (ABC News: Julian Robins)Yet he did so five times, including in January 2024, just months before the deaths.System improved after murders Superintendent Gilbert told the inquest the online licence renewal process was automatic and previously without "human intervention", as long as the licences were paid on time."I have no information to hand to suggest his licence was reviewed, so I suggest it wasn't," Superintendent Gilbert told the court.It was an "extraordinary omission" on the part of WA Police, he said.The superintendent, who had no involvement in Bombara's applications, conducted a review of the firearms branch and said significant changes were made in May 2024, days after the deaths.Police now run a sophisticated daily system called "Iris" that uses algorithms to assess all firearms holders and storage addresses, and officers had received extra training.Acting State Coroner Sarah Linton said the fact that police did not check the firearms licence renewals for almost 20 years was a “systematic failure” that went “all the way to the top". Triple Zero failureMeanwhile, Police Commissioner Col Blanch said it was "unacceptable" that Gretl Petelcyzc was not phoned back after her Triple Zero call to police was disconnected as Bombara threatened her and her mother at gunpoint.The teenager waited on the line for one minute and 20 seconds for the call to be answered before it was disconnected and contrary to official policy, police did not call back or dispatch officers to the scene, despite her telling the operator "there is a guy in my house with a gun". Col Blanch said it was "unacceptable" the operator did not phone back when the call was disconnected. (ABC News: Jake Strumer)Commissioner Blanch told 102.5 ABC Perth that was an "unacceptable" breach."The call back for a missed Triple Zero call should always occur … that is part of our policy and procedure," he said.Mr Blanch said the call taker had been disciplined over the incident, but said the delay in answering would have related to the volume of calls the centre was receiving."That would feel like an eternity to anyone in that situation," he said.Second call to policeA second Triple Zero call from Gretl was also replayed to the court, in which she whispers to the operator, "there is a guy with a gun in our house", before screams are heard along with a gunshot.The call was then disconnected.Gretl had also messaged her sister Liesl, who was driving nearby with her boyfriend, asking her to call the police and telling her "my hands are tied" and "he has a gun to Jenny's".Liesl called Triple Zero, telling the operator a man has a gun to her mother's head.By this time multiple police vehicles had been dispatched to the home, where officers discovered the bodies of Bombara and Jennifer Petelczyc.Gretl was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital, but died a short time later.Mr Blanch said police had improved their procedures since the tragedy and will follow up with a visit if they can not make contact when a call is disconnected.