Storm Brooke

Case record: Storm Brooke

Overview

Storm Brooke was an Australian prisoner who stabbed fellow prisoner Debbie Dick with a sharpened barbecue fork during a jailhouse brawl. Brooke was sentenced to life in prison in 1990 for Dick’s murder, later serving more than a year in isolation following the killing. Brooke broke out of jail in 1993 using a rope made of knotted sheets, spent two months on the run, and was later recaptured in a raid on a Gold Coast house. Brooke was paroled in July 2011, then returned to prison on 1 February 2012 for breaching the conditions of her parole release order, which included not attending a licensed premises or drinking alcohol.

The offence

On 7 January 1990, violence erupted in an overcrowded women’s prison when armed robber Storm Brooke grabbed a sharpened barbecue fork and repeatedly stabbed fellow prisoner Debbie Dick in the back. Dick’s friend Deb Kilroy managed to fend off Brooke with a chair that she smashed over her.

Brooke’s stabbing of Debbie Dick involved Dick being stabbed “14 times with a fork” in 1990.

Investigation

The materials describe the offence in Brisbane’s Boggo Road jail and note that Brooke spent more than a year in isolation following the murder.

Arrest and recapture

Brooke broke out of jail in 1993 using a rope made of knotted sheets. She scaled a 5m high wall and a fence and spent two months on the run before being recaptured in a raid on a Gold Coast house.

Trial

Brooke was given life for Debbie Dick’s murder.

Sentencing

Brooke was sentenced to life in prison in 1990.

Appeals

No appeal information was provided.

Parole and later breach

Brooke was paroled in July 2011. She was described as living on the Gold Coast after being paroled in July.

On 1 February 2012, Brooke was locked up again at the Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre at Wacol in Brisbane’s west on charges described as breaching the conditions of her parole release order. The conditions of her parole release order included not attending a licensed premises or drinking alcohol.

The materials state that Brooke was invited to attend a “Chopper and Hammer Show” at the Runaway Bay Tavern by Mark “Chopper” Read and his bodyguard and best friend, Mark “Hammer” Dixon. The report states that Brooke had been invited by Read on Friday, January 27.

The report states that the parole board would meet before February 28 to decide Brooke’s fate and whether her order would stay suspended, be upheld or cancelled.

Verbatim quotations

Mark “Chopper” Read told The Courier-Mail:

"She sat near the stage. She didn't go near the bar," Read said.

Mark “Chopper” Read also said:

"We thought she had a story to tell and if she could get her message out it could be a help and a positive thing for young people or kids in trouble."

Mark “Chopper” Read commented on Brooke’s return to jail:

Read said Brooke's return to jail was "sad" and "unfair".

Timeline

• 7 January 1990 — In an overcrowded Australian women’s prison, violence erupted at Brisbane’s Boggo Road jail when Storm Brooke grabbed a sharpened barbecue fork and repeatedly stabbed fellow prisoner Debbie Dick in the back; Deb Kilroy fended Brooke off with a chair she smashed over her.
• 1990 — Storm Brooke was sentenced to life in prison for stabbing Debbie Dick in 1990.
• 1993 — Brooke broke out of jail using a rope made of knotted sheets, scaled a 5m high wall and a fence, and spent two months on the run before being recaptured in a raid on a Gold Coast house.
• July 2011 — Storm Brooke was paroled.
• 1 February 2012 — Brooke was locked up again at the Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre at Wacol for breaching conditions of her parole release order.
• 27 January 2012 — Brooke was invited to a “Chopper and Hammer Show” at the Runaway Bay Tavern by Mark “Chopper” Read and Mark “Hammer” Dixon.

Other details

• The materials describe the stabbing as “the only murder committed inside an Australian women’s prison” and as “the only murder in a female prison in Queensland.”
• Brooke was described as being 44 years old at the time described in the later reporting.
• The report states Brooke served 21 years for stabbing fellow inmate Debbie Dick.
• The later reporting indicates the parole board would meet before February 28 to decide Brooke’s fate and whether her order would stay suspended, be upheld or cancelled.
• The materials state Brooke was locked up at the Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre at Wacol, in Brisbane’s west, on February 1.