Police Chief Asks If They Did Enough After Murder-Suicide

Topic: Police

Friday, 7 August 2026, at 6:18 am

Grant Stevens thought about the Port MacDonnell murder-suicide and the search for Gus Lamont.

In short:

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens says police must think about their interactions with Helena Wright.

The commissioner said police should always look for ways to improve.

The commissioner talked about the search for Gus Lamont and the case of Raina Cruise.

The police chief wants to reflect on the circumstances leading up to the murder-suicide.

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Commissioner Stevens warned against assuming things could have been done differently.

There are questions after Helena Wright visited a police station the day before she was found dead.

The bodies of Ms Wright and her daughter were found in the water.

Ms Wright's baby son is also presumed dead, but his body has not been found.

Police said Ms Wright visited the Mount Gambier Police Station the day before she died.

Commissioner Stevens said Ms Wright spoke to a police officer, but he did not give details.

Police are making a report for the coroner about the tragedy.

The commissioner said he was not assuming they could have done things better.

The report will look at everything that happened, including police interactions with Ms Wright.

It will consider all the events leading up to the murder-suicide.

The bodies of Helena Wright and her daughter were found in the water.

The commissioner was asked if there were more interactions between Ms Wright and police.

He said police would implement any changes needed after the coronial report.

Police will make changes before the coronial inquest if needed.

'A good thing' Corrections' call corrected

The commissioner also talked about the state governor's role and the case of Raina Cruise.

A woman who assaulted a pregnant police officer was released from prison early.

Raina Cruise was jailed for assaulting Constable Anthea Beck.

Cruise was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison.

She was not supposed to be eligible for parole until June 2027.

But she was released on home detention, which was later revoked.

Commissioner Stevens was pleased the home detention was overturned.

He was concerned that Cruise was given home detention in the first place.

The commissioner said it was good that the situation was corrected.

He talked to the CEO of Corrections about preventing similar situations.

Search continues for Gus

The commissioner talked about the search for four-year-old Gus Lamont.

Gus has been missing for almost 12 months.

He was reported missing from his family's property.

In an interview, one of Gus's grandmothers said police thought she might have buried him.

Commissioner Stevens did not comment on the interview.

Josie Murray talked to Channel Seven's Spotlight program.

The commissioner said Josie Murray could make any public statement she wanted.

It would not change the investigation.

SA governor? 'Never say never'

The commissioner might be considered for the role of state governor.

The current governor, Frances Adamson, will not renew her term.

Commissioner Stevens said any suggestion he could be governor was just a rumor.

He said it was up to the government to choose the next governor.

No one has talked to him about the role.

But he said never say never to anything.

He has enjoyed his career as a police officer.

He does not think about what's next.

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