Cheerleader death inquest delay for abuse expert search

An inquest into an NRL cheerleader's high-rise death has been significantly delayed as a domestic violence expert is sought to examine dozens of statements related to the woman's partner.

Breeana Elaine Stewart Robinson fell to her death from an 11th-storey Gold Coast balcony on January 29, 2013.

The Gold Coast Titans cheerleader, 21, was last seen alive by her partner Jayden Daniel Moorea, who was in the apartment at the time, a coroner has been told.

But a 10-day inquest into her death planned for October should be delayed until at least 2027, Queensland Deputy State Coroner Donald MacKenzie was told on Friday.

The court was still awaiting a full transcript from a previous criminal matter linked to Ms Robinson’s death, counsel assisting Kim Bryson said.

A review of DNA evidence in the wake of a commission of inquiry into forensic testing in Queensland was also outstanding.

The coroner suggested delaying the inquest to the second half of 2027 to obtain more funding for expert witnesses on domestic violence.

The names of academics and other experts had been put forward, but those people were more or less statisticians, he said.

“I really do think we need someone who is an expert in human behaviour, ideally a psychiatrist that specialises in domestic violence,” MacKenzie said.

Finding that type of expert would be “very helpful” to the cheerleader’s family, their lawyer said.

“There are 69 statements from former partners of Mr Moorea whose evidence Your Honour will need to understand properly and comprehensively and of course fairly to Mr Moorea,” barrister Matthew Hickey KC said.

The man formerly known as Dan Shearin was charged in 2019 with murdering Robinson, but the case was dropped in 2023 before trial.

He has denied any involvement in the death of the woman almost 20 years his junior.

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The coroner on Friday said delaying the inquest until after June 30 would make for a long wait, but he needed to get the right expert.

A pre-inquest conference will be held on February 5.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).