An inquiry into the Wieambilla shooting, which claimed six lives including two police officers, could be prevented from examining “extremely sensitive” material.
Queensland state coroner Terry Ryan held a second pre-inquest conference into the December 2022 murders in Brisbane on Tuesday.
Constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, were wounded and then shot dead at close range 10 minutes after entering a rural Wieambilla property to conduct a welfare check on a missing person.
The three suspects in the shooting, Gareth Daniel Train, 47, Nathaniel Charles Train, 46, and Stacey Jane Train, 45, also lit fires in an attempt to flush out an officer who escaped being shot after running away. covered.
The Trains’ neighbor, Alan Dare, 58, was shot and killed when he went to the property to investigate the fire.
Members of the Train family and the families of the deceased officers watched the conference via video conference on Tuesday.
Lawyer Ian Freckelton KC, appearing for the Queensland Police Commissioner, applied for several items to be excluded from the coroner’s consideration under a public interest immunity claim.
Constable Matthew Arnold (pictured) was killed during a fatal shooting at a rural property in Queensland last year.
Officer Rachel McCrow (pictured left) was one of three victims of the incident.
The nature of that material cannot be published for legal reasons.
Dr Freckelton said there was a well-established precedent for certain material to be excluded from an investigation.
“The material is extremely sensitive… the risk is that its public availability will erode the ability of those who protect us to do their jobs and help those with evil intentions,” Dr Freckelton said.
Lawyer Patrick McCafferty KC, who appeared before more than 30 police officers involved in the shooting, said he supported the material being kept hidden from the public, but it was necessary for the inquiry to examine it directly.
‘We disagree with the attempt to conceal or keep secret from Your Honor (that material). “It is deeply concerning to those I represent,” McCafferty said.
Queensland Police Union lawyer Justin Greggery KC and a lawyer for the Arnold and McCrow families also opposed the police commissioner’s application, arguing it could affect the coroner’s ability to address some of the police’s issues and concerns. the investigation.
The lawyer assisting Ruth O’Gorman KC said an agreement could be reached where certain material would be retained by the court and seen only by legal professionals or in hearings closed to the public.
Ryan said he would respond to all requests for public interest immunity and non-publication orders by the weekend.
The draft list of issues for the inquiry has been expanded to consider what New South Wales authorities knew about the suspects before they opened fire on four police officers in Wieambilla.
Officers had attended the property to inquire about a missing person report relating to Nathaniel Train, in response to contact from NSW Police.
The draft witness list now includes seven members of the NSW Police Force, including the commissioner.
The preliminary investigation schedule calls for the investigation hearings to begin on July 29 and last at least four weeks.