Evidence about the motivations of three people who gunned down two police officers and a civilian is set to be heard by Queensland’s state coroner.
An inquest is being held into the deaths of Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare, who were ambushed and shot at a rural property in the Western Downs area, west of Brisbane in December 2022.
The constables and two colleagues – who managed to escape – attended the Wieambilla property in response to a missing persons report.
The shooters Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train were killed in a gunfight with specialist police that night.
Witnesses due to testify in Brisbane Coroners Court on Monday include a forensic psychiatrist who was asked to provide an expert opinion on the Trains’ mental states before and during the incident.
An academic who has provided a report identifying the political, religious and ideological influences that shaped the Trains’ actions is also scheduled to take the stand.
Witnesses have already testified about the events surrounding the deaths of the two constables and Mr Dare, with confronting footage shown to the court.
The inquest has been told about the Queensland Police response to the three deaths including the rescue of Constable Keely Brough who hid in grassland near a burnt-out vehicle after her colleagues were killed.
Specialist officers who travelled onto the property in armoured vehicles have testified about their attempts to get the Trains to surrender which were met with gunfire.
Coroner Terry Ryan will consider more than 20 issues as part of the inquest, including what information NSW Police provided concerning the missing persons report on Nathaniel Train that prompted Queensland officers to attend the property.
The inquest will investigate Nathaniel Train’s illegal entry to Queensland during the COVID-19 NSW border closure, and the family’s source of firearms and ammunition.
Mr Ryan will also consider whether anything was known to authorities that would have indicated a risk the Trains would act in the way they did on December 12, 2022, including the police’s response to firearm-related calls in the same area.
The hearing is set to continue for a further three weeks.
