Tasmania's Coroner has found South Australian woman Kerry Michael was bashed and left for dead by her jealous and controlling husband while on holidays in Tasmania.
Coroner Simon Cooper found Kerry Michael's husband of 14 years, prominent South Australian health official Robin Michael, attacked her from behind in February, 2015, using a rock to hit her between three and eight times on the head.
Her body was found on the Face Track, just below the summit of Mt Roland in Tasmania's north-west.
"At least one of those blows [a blow to the back of her head which shattered the base of her skull and caused massive injury to her brain stem and cerebellum] was landed when Mrs Michael was lying face down on the ground," the coroner said.
"The injuries sustained by Mrs Michael in the attack upon her by her husband were massive … Mrs Michael would quickly have succumbed to the injuries and that they were unsurvivable.
The coroner accepted the evidence from state forensic pathologist Dr Christopher Lawrence that there were signs Mrs Michael had tried to escape the frenzied attack by her husband.
"Dr Lawrence identified defensive type injuries to her arms, wrists and legs, as well as abrasions and bruising he considered were likely to have been sustained as she attempted to get away from her husband over rough terrain," he said.
The coroner found Mr Michael had then taken his wife's mobile phone from her backpack and walked back down the mountain — leaving her for dead.
"He was unaware whether she was alive or dead, the extent of the injuries that she had suffered, and whether she may have been able to survive those injuries when he took her telephone and left her lying on the track," the coroner said.
The inquest heard Mr Michael had been jealous and controlling through out their relationship — repeatedly falsely accusing his wife of having a affair.
It was this paranoia that caused him to snap that day.
After bludgeoning her to death, Mr Michael returned to their caravan and emailed his personal bank details, passwords and will to his accountant and to his sons. He also posted what was akin to a confession on social media.
Mr Michael committed suicide while on remand for his wife's murder at Hobart's Risdon Prison in June 2015.
His death is also the subject of an inquest.
The inquest heard Mrs Michael was a fun-loving person with a bubbly personality and a much-loved daughter, sister and mother.
The coroner made no recommendations about her death.
