A man who murdered his wife’s friend and her daughter in a violent rage had a cyst the size of a cricket ball lodged in his brain, it can be revealed.
A health worker said that Mark Bombara was being treated in hospital the days before the double murder in Perth last Friday, and his behaviour towards staff had become aggressive.
Mr Bombara, 62, shot dead Jennifer Petelczyc and her 18-year-old daughter Gretl in the leafy suburb of Floreat.
He had gone to their property looking for his estranged wife but turned the gun on himself after killing Ms Petelczyc and her daughter.
The health worker, who spoke to WA Todayon the condition of anonymity as they were not cleared to speak publicly about this issue, said staff raised concerns about Mr Bombara’s behaviour.
They added that Mr Bombara would not have been discharged from hospital if doctors had known they were “sending him home to 13 guns”.
Mr Bombara suffered a mini-stroke in January and was admitted to hospital.
He suffered a similar episode a few weeks ago and staff noticed he was being aggressive and intimidating.
Mr Bombara’s family had also said his behaviour had changed “dramatically” in the lead up to the double murder and his own suicide.
The health worker said the two women who were killed had been failed by WA’s health system.
“If that team knew they were sending someone home to 13 guns, with a cyst that large and displaying that behaviour … there would have been a discussion with police,” the health worker said.
They also revealed that staff were so concerned about Mr Bombara’s behaviour that they recommended his driving licence be suspended.
On Tuesday Mr Bombara’s daughter Ariel said she and her mother had fled their home in March.
She claimed to have spoken with police on three separate occasions between March 30 and April 2 where she flagged an “imminent threat” to their lives due to their father’s violent history and access to firearms.
Ariel also claimed she was refused a 72-hour restraining order against her father.
She added that it was her belief that her father would have killed without his guns.
“The gun reforms being discussed currently are an important step, but it is my unwavering belief that even without his guns, my father would have committed a horrific act of violence which likely would have claimed lives,” she said.
The health worker said that communication needed to be improved between agencies so health professionals can better judge the risks involved.
They suggested that information be shared on the electronic My Health system, which would alert health professionals if a person with a brain injury that was displaying worrying behaviour was a licensed gun holder.
“I get the point the daughter is making that if he wanted to do harm he would have [with or without a gun] but his brain was not functioning properly. He would not be making good decisions. This should be included in this gun law reform debate,” the worker said.
“We need mandatory reporting and improved ability to assess risk – we need to know if people have firearms, as we often visit their homes.”
.