SHEARIN CASE OPEN
POLICE have reopened the investigation into the death of a cheerleader who plunged from the 11th-floor balcony of a highrise after receiving abusive texts from her boyfriend.
In a shock development, a coroner has told detectives to review crucial evidence on how Breeana Robinson died four years ago. Boyfriend Dan Shearin, a cruise ship entertainer, was jailed for six months for using a carriage service to menace and harass. The sentence was reduced on appeal to a 15-month good behaviour bond.
DETECTIVES have reopened the investigation into the death of a Gold Coast cheerleader who plunged from a highrise balcony after a stream of abusive text messages from her boyfriend.
Breeana Robinson’s tragic 2013 death was to be the subject of an inquest, scheduled to be held last month, but in a shock development the Coroner has told detectives to review crucial evidence – including statements from medical experts – on exactly how the 21-year-old died.
The move to revisit forensic evidence comes four years after Ms Robinson’s death and more than two years since her boyfriend, cruise ship entertainer Dan Shearin, was sentenced to jail for menacing and harassing her in the lead-up to her death.
The former Gold Coast Titans cheerleader, who was legally blind, fell from a balcony at Southport apartment building H2O after receiving a torrent of abusive texts from Shearin.
He was originally sentenced to six months’ jail for using a carriage service to menace and harass but had the sentence reduced to a 15-month good behaviour bond on appeal.
He later wrote a selfpublished “tell-all” book about the ordeal, describing the chilling moment he saw his girlfriend fall from their 11th floor balcony.
Police have confirmed they are reviewing key elements of the case, which could lead to a full-scale investigation with the possibility of criminal charges.
The inquest had aimed to examine the “specific circumstances surrounding Breeana’s death, particularly how she came to fall to her death and whether any recommendations can be made to prevent deaths from occurring in similar circumstances”.
Breeana’s aunt Janine Mackney said she hoped the investigation would provide some answers for her family.
“We’re anxiously awaiting the outcome,” she said.
Breeana had only lived with Shearin, a boyfriend almost 20 years her senior, for 38 days when she fell to her death. During his sentencing hearing it emerged he had sent her belittling text messages minutes before her death.
“You’re more interested in TV, food and everything else but your partner,” he wrote.
“That’s why everything’s ruined. Your priorities are (expletive) up.”
Shearin’s lawyers argued that of the hundreds of text messages, only 12 could be deemed offensive but Magistrate John Costanzo slammed the conduct of the then 41-yearold as “sickening”, calling him a “pig” and “coward”.
Detective Superintendent Kerry Johnson from the South Eastern Region confirmed police had been asked to review evidence from the case.
“We have submitted a brief for the Coroner, but they have referred it back to us to review some statements and expert material. At the conclusion of our review we will consult with the Coroner to determine the next course of action.”