A CORONER has reserved her finding into the death of East Albury man Adam Probert after police witnesses yesterday indicated they did not believe he had been stabbed by anyone else.
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Mr Probert, 47, died at hospital from a stab wound to his lung and heart after making a call for ambulance assistance at his unit.
The call was made in the early hours of December 6, 2011, and during a conversation lasting more than 11 minutes Mr Probert was told to apply pressure to his wound and slow down his breathing.
He was asked about what took place, what happened to the person who stabbed him and said he had “gone”.
But three police witnesses, including a crime scene officer and blood splatter expert, gave evidence yesterday indicating they did not believe there was another person involved.
A senior forensic psychologist’s report said Mr Probert possibly inflicted the fatal wound, but may not have intended to do it.
Evidence in the three-day inquest before coroner Karen Robinson finished yesterday afternoon.
Mr Probert’s brother, Matthew, made a statement to the court outlining the impact the incident had had on his family.
He said they appreciated the work done by police.
He said the impact of his brother’s death had been extreme on his mother, June, and sister, Sandra Walker.
“The effect on our family has been massive to say the least,” Mr Probert said.
“We tend to think of nothing else. I do not think he committed suicide.
“An accident? I don’t know. Was he murdered? I don’t know.”
But Mr Probert said his brother had loved his family and they all loved him.
He described his brother as “gentle, generous, loving, kind and funny”.
“We want nothing more than to find out what happened to Adam,” he said.
He described his brother as a special friend to so many and cherished uncle, brother-in-law, brother and son.
Mr Probert’s mother, sister and brother-in-law Paul Walker wiped away tears as he made his comments.
The officer assisting the coroner, Sgt Sheldon Korneluk, said there were a lot of questions as why and how things happened with no forced entry at Adam Probert’s Alexandra Street unit.
“It is apparent that Adam was very security conscious,” Sgt Korneluk said.
She said on the balance of probabilities one of the best explanations was that his injury was a self-inflicted wound.
He was clearly seeking help when he made the triple-0 phone call.
IF YOU NEED HELP
Lifeline: 13 11 14
SANE Australia: 1800 187 263 (Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm)
Suicide Helpline Victoria: 1300 651 251
NSW Rural Mental Health Support Line: 1800 201 123
Gateway Community Health: 1800 657 573