Wieambilla coronial inquest hears from slain cop’s family

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Wieambilla coronial inquest hears from slain cop’s family

The mother of a police officer murdered by religious extremists had to wait five hours before knowing her son was ******* in the line of duty, a coronial inquest has been told.

Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow were murdered during what was supposed to be a routine job at a rural property in Wieambilla on December 12, 2022.

Camera IconConstables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow were murdered after being ambushed at a rural property. Credit: Supplied

The two officers attended the property alongside constables Randall Kirk and Keely Brough, who were following up on a missing persons report for Nathaniel Train, who was believed to be staying at his brother Gareth and his wife Stacey’s property.

But when the four officers jumped the locked gate to carry out their duties, Constable Arnold was fatally shot within minutes, and Constable McCrow was ******* at close range moments later.

On the final day of the coronial inquest, the families of the two constables murdered in cold blood shared the heartache they each continue to live with since the deaths.

Constable Arnold’s mother, Sue, said the pain of losing her son – who was a triplet – “never fades”.

“Our pain in losing Matt isn’t a singular event … it never fades, has become a constant presence,” Ms Arnold said.

“Each day brings a fresh reminder of what’s being lost, a stark realisation that he is gone.

“Each anniversary of Matt’s ****** starts a regular chain of misery and missed family events.

“He won’t get to be a groomsman at his sister’s upcoming wedding.

“He won’t be here on Father’s Day this Sunday.

“We love you, Matty, we miss you every day, and we will speak your name with pride always.

“Matt did not **** in vain.”

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconThe two police officers were ******* at the Wains Rd property. 9News Credit: Supplied

Ms Arnold said her son and his colleagues had walked into a “deadly trap”.

“We have seen the evidence and the video footage showing the markers where he took his last breath,” she said.

“We have visited the site, and we have stood in the spot when Matt was *********.

“We have looked up that track and seen where the coward took aim and took our son and brother and cold blood; a single bullet ended his life and the life that we wanted to share with him.

“It was a life that included him being just two days away from doing a relieving stint at the Child Protection Unit in Logan and coming home to us.”

Ms Arnold said she hoped police in future would provide better communication with families of police officers who had been injured, shot or ******* after they had to wait several hours before being told Constable Arnold was *****.

“Unfortunately, we had to wait five hours to officially find out Matt had *****,” she said.

“Why did it take Matt’s sister repeatedly refreshing shared Apple Watch fitness data to know something was wrong?

“As the media were reporting three police officers were unaccounted for, family members began flocking to our home.

“We packed our bags in case we had to head out west to visit Matt in hospital.

“The media followed up those initial reports by saying two officers had been *******, mistakenly revealing the wrong ages of those deceased.

“We were able to breathe a sigh of relief … to only then receive the dreaded knock on the door about 9.20pm, confirming our worst fears.

“Matt and Rachel’s families deserved better that night.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconConstable Arnold’s family say his ****** is a ‘regular chain of misery’. Credit: Supplied

Ms Arnold said the inquest had revealed to their family the “critical operational failings that could have prevented this tragedy”.

“We know who pulled the trigger and ******* Matt, but systemic failings and negligence on behalf of many others sent him to Wains Rd,” she said.

“What could have been done to prevent Matt and Rachel’s ******?

“What policies and procedures were adhered to regarding interstate missing persons reports?

“We know Matt and Rachel were diligent officers.

“They did all the relevant checks before attending, but you can’t find information when it hasn’t been entered into the system.

“Why would communication breakouts, which rendered their radios and iPads useless, be allowed to persist. This put them at unnecessary risk.

“Better communications must be available to all police officers. Trying to find the best radio channel should not be a decision that officers need to make or having to put up with communications that we have heard is patchy at best.”

The lengthy inquest previously heard evidence that the Train family’s religious ideologies and shared delusion played a significant role in the fatal ambush.

‘Still unanswered’: Slain cop’s mum breaks silence

Outside court, Ms Arnold told reporters the inquest had been “extremely traumatic” and had “deeply impacted” the families’ emotional wellbeing.

She said their families had been comforted by the kind words and actions of many people, including police officers.

“The past five weeks have brought mixed emotions, many tears and hugs and anger,” Ms Arnold said.

“Back on July 29, in this spot, we spoke to the media on the first day of the inquest to convey our hope it would be open and transparent.

“While we respect and appreciate the role of the court in gathering information about what unfolded in Wieambilla, we leave with some critical questions still unanswered.

“That’s disappointing.”

Ms Arnold said the inquest not only exposed the evil acts that “brutally” ended the two officers’ “hopes and ambitions, it also highlighted “serious operational failings”.

Ms Arnold referenced evidence given by Detective Senior Sergeant Duncan Gorrie, who confirmed Nathaniel was not a missing person, rather someone who had “lost touch” with his family.

She asked: “So, our children were ********* for what? A loss of contact?”

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconFamily and friends of the slain officers spoke about their profound loss on the final day of the inquest into the Wieambilla massacre. NewsWire/Tertius Pickard Credit: News Corp Australia

Ms Arnold also said it was disappointing to hear the similarities to the 2017 ******* of Toowoomba Senior Constable Brett Forte, especially “in relation to shots fired and jobs not being properly recorded or investigated thoroughly”.

“Why wasn’t Brett’s ******* a catalyst for change?” Ms Arnold asked.

“It’s vitally important the coroner now recommends fundamental interventions to ensure deficiencies, or gaps, that were identified in the inquest are appropriately responded to at all levels, right across the nation.

She said there must be a “blueprint” to improving training, tactical options and equipment, risk assessment and data and intelligence sharing and analysis.

Ms Arnold lamented that any recommendations were “too late” for the two constables and neighbour Alan Dare, who was also murdered.

“We desperately miss Matt and Rachel – the pain so excruciating and unimaginable is with us every breath and every step we take,” she said.

Ms Arnold revealed that Friday would have been Constable McCrow’s 31st birthday.

Instead, it will be a day marked by “impossible grief”.

Ms Arnold said her son too would not be able to celebrate his birthday with his siblings ever again.

“He won’t be here for Father’s Day on Sunday,” she said.

“Once again, we will be forced to dry our tears and to try and move on to the best of our ability.

“Matt and Rachel’s deaths must not be in vain.”

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