Kids were my whole world, McLeod dad tells coroner

The father of four children killed in head-on collision has told an inquest that he is “no longer the same man” after losing his family.

Ms McLeod’s former partner and father of the children, James McLeod, read his victim impact statement to the coroner.

As pictures of the children were displayed in the courtroom, Mr McLeod said he had always dreamed of becoming a dad.

“I was over the moon but nervous as heck when cutting (Aaleyn’s) umbilical cord,” Mr McLeod said.

He told the hearing he was present at all his children’s births and gave them their first feeds

“They were my whole world and still are … it breaks my heart that I will not get to see the rest of their firsts,” Mr McLeod said.

The coroner heard during the inquest that Ms McLeod struggled with her mental health and suicide attempts, and police suspected the crash was related to allegations of threatening behaviour and sexual abuse she made against Mr McLeod.

He denied these allegations to police at the time and his barrister challenged the allegations at the hearings.

Mr McLeod said on Friday that his life changed forever when the police woke him up to tell him there had been an accident.

“I was told none of the children survived. I was absolutely gutted to have my kids ripped away from me,” he said.

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Mr McLeod said he has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress and complex grief, and found it upsetting to look at children the same age as his own had been.

“I have been here every day for three weeks. I hope your findings make sure something like this never happens again,” Mr McLeod told the coroner.

The hearing was then shown videos of the McLeod children saying in unison, “Hi daddy, we love you”.

A barrister for Ms McLeod’s parents and relatives read from a victim impact statement that said the loss of Charmaine and the children had left a hole that will never be filled.

The family said they had been upset by media reports that portrayed Ms McLeod as “selfish and evil”, and it had been difficult to listen to evidence about how authorities reacted to her.

“It saddens us that rather than receiving the help she needed, Charmaine felt stigma and shame,” the family’s statement said.

The family stated they were impressed with the coroner’s investigation and hoped that it could bring about changes.

The barrister, voice halting with emotion, read from Ms McLeod’s message to her mum for Mother’s Day.

“I am the mother I am today – a bloody good one – because to be honest, I had you as an example,” Ms McLeod wrote.

Coroner Kerrie O’Callaghan will take written submissions over the next month before preparing her findings.