'It's with me everyday': Police dispatcher, 50, sues the state of Queensland for causing her to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder after she was forced to listen to the brutal murder of mother Tara Brown
- A police dispatcher is suing the state after she listened to the murder of a mother
- Tara Brown was repeatedly smashed in the head by ex-boyfriend Lionel Patea
- Ms Brown was hit with a large metal casing of an eight kilogram fire extinguisher
- Ms Jansen, 50, has suffered from PTSD and is suing the state for $615,572
- She was last person to speak to Ms Brown before the young woman was killed
- Patea, a former bikie, was jailed for life on February 27, 2017 after pleading guilty
A police dispatcher has sued the state of Queensland for causing her post-traumatic stress disorder after she was forced to listen to the murder of a young mother in a chilling triple-0 phone call.
Tara Brown, 24, was repeatedly smashed in the head with a large metal casing of an eight kilogram fire extinguisher by her bikie boyfriend Lionel Patea on a Gold Coast road on September 8, 2015.
Police dispatcher Chondra Jansen was the last person to speak to the young mother before she died after she made an emergency call.
Ms Jansen recalled how she felt 'helpless' as she kept calling out 'Tara, Tara', hoping she would respond.
The 50-year-old has blamed Queensland police for the lack of support following the call, which led to her PTSD leaving her unable to work for 15 months, and has sued the state for $615,572.
'It's with me every day. I can replay every moment,' Ms Jansen told The Sunday Mail.
Tara Brown, 24, was repeatedly smashed in the head with a large metal casing of an eight kilogram fire extinguisher by her bikie ex-boyfriend Lionel Patea
Police dispatcher Chondra Jansen was the last person to speak to the young mother before she died after she made an emergency call. Pictured: Patea, left, and Ms Brown
Ms Jansen recalled how she felt 'helpless' as she kept calling out 'Tara, Tara', hoping she would respond. Pictured: Patea and his child
Ms Brown made the emergency call as she was chased by her tattooed partner who was driving a black Jeep on the morning of September 8.
The 24-year-old crashed into the side of a home about 8.45am, before her head was beaten with the fire extinguisher multiple times, leaving the mother with severe brain injuries.
A neighbour was initially helping Patea smash the windscreen of Ms Brown's car, thinking he was trying help the woman get out.
Share this article
Ms Brown was heard yelling out for her young daughter Aria by a witness and brave mother- of-four Leesa Kennedy, who tried to help stop Patea from murdering her.
Ms Kennedy, who said she had been haunted by vicious dreams since the murder, said the distressing event felt like 'it went for hours but it was really just 15 minutes'.
Ms Jansen remembered trying to find out where Ms Brown was and was told Patea was threatening her with a knife.
The dispatcher had asked not to deal with emergency calls but was only taken off the job for two days.
'The next minute he'd just run her off the road. I could her screaming. I just prayed she would talk to me, but she couldn't,' she said.
'It was 40 seconds, but it felt like a lifetime to me.'
She was able to send emergency services to where the young mother was, despite the fact she was no longer responding.
Ms Jansen was unable to attend work after she was haunted by numerous news reports about Ms Brown's murder, including CCTV footage and details about the pre-trial hearing.
Apart from the lack of support, she also claims no one had done a welfare check on her.
Maurice Blackburn Lawyer Beth Rolton backed Ms Jansen's claim of being given no support for dealing with one of the most distressing phone calls.
'I never knew of a murder that has taken place while a person was on the phone, Ms Janson, who now works with Queensland Police as an acting executive secretary, said.
She said her new role has put her in a lower salary in comparison to her previous role.
Ms Jansen, who filed her personal injury damages to the District Court, is waiting for the response of the State Government.
Ms Brown and Patea shared a daughter, Aria, born in 2012.
Former Bandido sergeant-at-arms Patea was jailed for life on February 27, 2017 after pleading guilty to the murder of Ms Brown at the Brisbane Supreme Court.
Tara Brown's mother Natalie Hinton read out a victim impact statement to the court about the 'monster' who claimed her daughter's life.
'Tara was empathetic, warm and trusting. She was a lover of life from a very young age,' Ms Hinton said.
The 24-year-old crashed into the side of a home at about 8.45am, before her head was beaten with the fire extinguisher multiple times, leaving the mother with severe brain injuries
'The monster was now in control, she feared him. He took full advantage of her vulnerability. I was oblivious to the extent of his sickening actions.
'My whole world caved in around me as this misogynistic narcissist murdered my baby girl.'
Ms Brown had just dropped off her three-year-old daughter Aria at day care when Patea chased down her hatchback with a four-wheel-drive.
She had been hiding from him at a safe house and friends' homes since taking out a domestic violence order against him just days earlier.
Witnesses saw the pair reaching speeds of more than 100km/h and Patea bashing on Ms Brown's driver's side window with both fists when she had to stop at red lights.
Patea (left) ultimately rammed the back of Ms Brown's (right) car, forcing her down an embankment and trapping her inside the overturned vehicle
Patea ultimately rammed the back of Ms Brown's car, forcing her down an embankment and trapping her inside the overturned vehicle.
He used the metal slab weighing 7.8kg taken from the side of the road to repeatedly bash her head, causing 'non-survivable' brain injuries.
Nearby residents who heard the crash originally thought Patea was trying to free Ms Brown and helped him break a window to get to her.
It wasn't until they heard her crying out that they realised what he was doing and tried to stop him, but he fought them off.
Emergency operators listened helplessly as the mother cried for help - as more than a dozen 'thumping' sounds were recorded over the phone.
