St Basil’s managers set to face questions over deadly aged care outbreak
St Basil's COVID-19 deaths inquest to resume
- Inquest resumes: Hearing into 50 resident deaths continues
- Compelled evidence: Former leaders ordered to testify
- COVID tragedy: Residents died during 2020 outbreak
- Final stage: Coroner to deliver findings after hearings
Nearly six years after 50 aged care residents died from COVID-19, the Coronial Inquiry into the outbreak will resume in August.
In July and August of 2020, in the early months of the global pandemic, 50 residents died during an outbreak at St Basil’s Home for the Aged in Fawkner, 12km north of the Melbourne CBD.
A Coronial Inquest was announced that year, but by late 2021, former St Basil’s Home for the Aged chairman Kon Kontis and former Nursing Director Vesna (‘Vicky’) Kos had refused to give evidence, saying to do so would be self-incriminating.
The couple fought the direction until the Victorian Court of Appeal overturned an appeal in late 2022.
However, the Inquest was held up when WorkSafe prosecuted St Basil’s over unsafe working conditions. Earlier this year that case concluded when St Basil’s Home for the Aged pleaded guilty and was fined $150,000.
In a preliminary appearance at the Coroner’s Court of Victoria last Thursday (11 June), Coroner Liberty Sanger said the Inquest will resume from 3 August to 7 August. The last two remaining witnesses – Kontis and Kos – have been compelled to give evidence.
Attendees stood for more than a minute as an interpreter read the names of the people who died at St Basil’s, many of whom were members of the local Greek community.
After the hearing, final legal submissions will be made, and then the Coroner will deliver their findings.
