Inquest into the death of RIHARNA LOUISE THOMSON

The inquest into the death of Riharna Louise Thomson, conducted by the Coroner’s Court of Victoria, examined the circumstances surrounding her fatal fall from a horse during a track training session. Riharna, a professional jockey, tragically lost her life when the horse she was riding experienced a catastrophic breakdown, leading to her being thrown from the saddle. The coroner was tasked with determining both the cause and manner of her death, as well as whether the incident constituted an industrial accident. The primary legal issues involved establishing whether the horse’s breakdown was due to the horse itself or an issue with the track, and whether the death was a result of an industrial accident under the relevant legislative provisions.

The Coroner, Magistrate Jane Elizabeth Cummings, examined expert evidence from veterinarians, equine specialists, and jockeys, alongside the conditions of the track at the time of the incident. The court considered the possibility of a mechanical failure in the horse or an external factor such as the track condition contributing to the breakdown. After reviewing all the evidence, the coroner concluded that the cause of death was a traumatic injury resulting from the fall, and the manner of death was accidental. The coroner found that the incident was not due to any fault of the horse itself but rather an unforeseen and unavoidable catastrophic breakdown. Given the circumstances, the coroner determined that a formal hearing was unnecessary, as the evidence sufficiently established the nature of the incident and the absence of any actionable fault.

The coroner’s findings confirmed that Riharna’s death was an industrial accident, given her status as a professional jockey and the occurrence of the incident during her employment. The coroner’s determination aligns with the legal criteria for classifying the incident as an industrial accident. The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death and noted the tragic nature of the incident. This conclusion ensures that appropriate measures can be taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future.