Police stand united against gunman

TUNG Tran became a police officer to help the community, but was betrayed by one of the people he swore to protect.

TUNG Tran became a police officer to help the community, but was betrayed by one of the people he swore to protect.

The young officer and his patrol partner were injured, physically and psychologically, by gunman Daniel Van Setten in May last year.

In the Supreme Court yesterday, surrounded by more than 100 of his peers, Constable Tran confronted his assailant.

"You called us there to help you, but you shot at us," Const Tran told Van Setten.

In his victim impact statement, read to the court yesterday, Const Tran said of the incident: "It was a call we will answer time and time again.

"No matter how many times an officer is shot, seriously injured or killed, every time you call the police we will be there for you.

"As long as you (Van Setten) are behind closed doors, the safer I feel for my police colleagues - the men and women who keep you safe."

Van Setten, 36, has pleaded guilty to a range of aggravated offences including endangering life and recklessly causing serious harm.

In the early hours of May 25, last year, he called police asking to have a drunk female removed from his home.

When Constables Tran and Nathan Mulholland arrived, Van Setten shot at them through the screen door with a semi-automatic rifle.

The last thing they heard before Van Setten opened fire was him saying: "You've been set up."

Yesterday, Const Mulholland told the court he had suffered wounds to his face and hand. However, it was the psychological injuries that were most crippling.

"So many times, I have flashbacks," he said.

"Every time something triggers one - a loud noise, someone mentioning a firearm - I feel I'm reliving the shooting."

He said he'd become a virtual "hermit crab", putting his relationship with his wife, children and siblings into jeopardy.

"I still hear the words you said - `You've been set up'," he said to Van Setten.

"You've not shown any remorse ... not given any explanation for what you did. This was an attack on every police officer and their families."

Const Tran said he decided to become a police officer while sitting in a vandalised bus shelter, reading an article about a sex assault on a woman.

"I always grew up with the idea that I wanted to help people, (and) this became my rude awakening to the harsh realities of this world," he said.

He said scarring on his eye was a "daily reminder" of the incident that sometimes caused him to feel deep fear.

"I had lost trust in the very people I swore to protect," he said. Like his partner, Const Tran endured marriage and family difficulties while coming to terms with the shooting.

He, too, suffers nightmares and anxiety.

"It has been a year on, and the events of that night still haunt me," he said. "I have fought my own war, a war no one else will ... come to understand."

Const Tran criticised the decision, by prosecutors, to broker a plea bargain with Van Setten in May, resulting in attempted murder charges being dropped.

Van Setten also addressed the court yesterday. He read out a hand-written apology addressed to the officers, their families and all SA Police officers.

"I want to say I'm deeply ashamed and have enormous regret for my actions," he said.

"I'm extremely sorry ... and understand my actions put lives in danger, caused injuries and ongoing trauma. This was not my intention ... my actions were the result of a seriously irrational thought process."

Craig Caldicott, for Van Setten, said the incident amounted to an attempted suicide.

Justice Chris Kourakis was hesitant to accept that submission, saying it was not supported by psychological reports tendered to the court.

He remanded Van Setten in custody for further analysis, and sentencing on a date to be set.

Outside court, Assistant Commissioner Neil Smith said officers had attended court in a show of support and solidarity. "It's pretty evident police officers are very passionate about their colleagues," he said.