Coroner refers Dr Peter Spencer to prosecutors over death of wife in Docklands home

A Melbourne doctor who slashed open his wife’s neck with a kitchen knife and pen on the assumption she was choking waited three hours before calling paramedics for help, a coroner has found.

Registered sleep physician Dr. Peter Spencer has been referred to prosecution for presumed negligent death following the death of his wife Mayumi in January 2015, with Victorian coroner John Cain stating that a criminal offense may have been committed.

Mrs Spencer was found dead in her apartment in Caravel Lane, Docklands on 17 January 2015 with high levels of cocaine in her body.

Her husband, told a corona inquiry into the 29-year-old’s death, that he was trying to resuscitate her around 4am that morning when she had a seizure and started vomiting.

The court was told he thought there was a blockage in her throat and tried unsuccessfully to perform a cricothyroidotomy – an emergency procedure to open the airway – with a knife and pen.

Dr. Spencer called emergency services at 7:38 AM that morning — some three hours after she reportedly began to choke.

“Her temperature was taken and found to be 33.2 degrees, which suggested she had been deceased for quite some time,” Judge Cain said.

“The available evidence indicates that there was a significant delay between when Dr. Spencer allegedly noticed that Ms. Spencer needed medical attention… and when he contacted emergency services.”

In his published findings, he found that there was a history of domestic violence between the couple, including suggestions of psychological abuse and coercive, controlling behavior.

Dr. Peter Spencer, Mayumi’s wife, has been referred to prosecutors by coroner John Cain after discovering he may have committed a felony of presumed negligent homicide due to the delay in seeking help while his wife lay dying

The court was told that Ms Spencer had revealed to friends that her husband had occasionally kicked her out of the house, beat, beat and shoved her, and sent her abusive messages calling her a ‘piece of shit’ and a ‘ called whore. .

Judge Cain said an alleged incident involved her being injected with cocaine “against her will.”

“On at least one occasion, Mrs. Spencer told a friend she was afraid of Dr. Spencer,” he said.

Judge Cain found out in 2012 that Mrs. Spencer had moved out and told her husband she wanted a divorce.

She told friends and family that she couldn’t go home because she had no money and Dr. Spencer had her passport.

The couple eventually reconciled and the domestic violence lawsuit was dropped in court.

“On November 28, 2022, Dr. Spencer made a number of statements … (which) claim to point to observations of the couple being happy in the 18 months prior to the fatal incident and that Ms. Spencer reported a desire to have children,” said Judge Cain.

Victoria’s Coroners Court was told that Mrs Spencer had revealed allegations of domestic violence by her husband in the years before her death

Judge Cain eventually discovered that Mrs. Spencer died of cocaine poisoning.

No one has been charged in Ms Spencer’s death and Judge Cain said he could not determine whether she could have been saved had emergency services been called sooner.

However, he stated that a criminal offense may still have been committed.

“The criminal offense of which I have made the required standard is homicide by negligence because of the delays in seeking urgent medical attention and Dr. Spencer’s duty of care to Mrs. Spencer when she discovered her in a state in need of urgent medical attention” , he said.

“Accordingly … I direct the Chief Clerk to inform the Director of Public Prosecutions that, in my opinion, a criminal offense has been committed in connection with the death of Mrs. Spencer.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual abuse or domestic violence, please contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence Counseling Service 24-hour helpline 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732