Editorial: Jeffrey Brooks’ case wrongs must be made right

THE tragic death of Jeffrey Lawrence Brooks, at 3.25pm on March 13, 1996, has never been properly investigated or explained – until now.

• ‘We’ve been denied justice the whole way through’
• Conflict, threats: Boss’ anguished call to police
• Family, friends remember an eternal optimist
• This family deserves the truth

THE tragic death of Jeffrey Lawrence Brooks, at 3.25pm on March 13, 1996, has never been properly investigated or explained – until now.

The Courier-Mail’s year-long examination of this death, called an accident by police but given an open finding by a coroner, will, hopefully, bring the attention and renewed inquiry this case needs.

What we know is that Jeffrey, a caring, careful and considerate 24-year-old who loved sports, hunting, working at the Beenleigh Crayfish Farm and his deep association with his church, feared for his life. He’d told the owner of the farm how he’d be killed and who would kill him - a prediction that his family and friends believe became the reality that befell him 22 years ago.

However, from the start, there were holes in the investigation and these multiplied as time went on.

The Courier-Mail’s Dead Wrong podcast investigates Jeffrey Brooks’ death in 2006. Picture: AAP/Tim Marsden

Our reporters Kate Kyriacou and Peter Hall have gone back and talked to everyone involved, combed over all of the evidence seen by the coroner, carried out ballistic tests and sourced cars, guns and ammunition. Fresh scientific tests have been carried out and expert opinion from around the world has been sought and put into the puzzle pieces we have been pulling together.

This investigation is not over yet.

From today Queenslanders can read the story Dead Wrong, beginning with four pages in our print editions, greater access to material through our digital and online editions and what is going to be this state’s most compelling and comprehensive podcast, recreating and reliving what we believe was a murder – just as Jeffrey’s mother and father, Wendy and Lawrie Brooks, have believed for more than two decades.

This groundbreaking piece of multimedia journalism will take you into the central events of the death of Jeffrey, the way the investigation by police unfolded and then, without satisfactory examination, fell short of what should have developed.

There are still elements that are coming together and we hope the exposure that will come with telling this story – and bringing it to renewed life through the podcast – will shake some more evidence and eyewitnesses out of the woodwork.

There is more to the death of Jeffrey Brooks than the convenient explanation that he accidentally shot himself with a gun he’d refused to use and a weapon he knew to be unsafe.

The holes in the police investigation need to be filled and the weak nature of those inquiries exposed. Then, we can fully explain what happened to Jeffrey and give some peace to Wendy and Lawrie. If a new investigation is needed, it should happen. An injustice has been done and it must be made right and the sooner the better.

TRUMP NEEDS TO GET TOUGH AGAIN

THE glimmer of hope the world saw at the end of the one-day meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un last month appears to be fading.

Despite two meetings in the North between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Mr Kim, US intelligence a week ago released images of work being done on nuclear facilities in North Korea.

New structures had appeared and basic transport needs such as roads were in place.

There was no sign of any commitment to denuclearisation Mr Kim promised when he met with Mr Trump. This made the latest weekend trip to Pyongyang by Mr Pompeo that much more important. Mr Trump continues to insist everything is going to schedule and the Singapore deal is holding firm.

US President Donald Trump, right, stands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Picture: AP

The problem is that what Mr Trump and the White House are saying does not always match reality. Late last month, Mr Trump told a rally the remains of 200 fallen American troops had been repatriated but military officials later said this was not the case.

Now, the talks between Mr Pompeo and the North Korean ageing spy master Kim Yong-chol indicate there is not even any agreement about this aspect of the Singapore deal – no plan on how many remains will be returned or when it might happen.

While Mr Pompeo was optimistic after the talks, saying progress had been made on the three key issues of denuclearisation, security guarantees and the repatriation of remains, the official North Korean news agency had a much more belligerent take on things.

The North Koreans said the US wanted irreversible denuclearisation while offering nothing more than a “reversible” proposal to cancel the joint military exercises with the South Korea.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (right) and Kim Yong Chol (left), a North Korean senior ruling party official and former intelligence chief. Picture: AFP

While it is early days since the Singapore summit, Mr Trump might be learning the lesson that talk is cheap with North Korea and the work of getting any progress on denuclearisation is long and hard. Mr Trump may have to accept you can’t just shake hands and expect the problems that have built up over half a century can be solved overnight. As previous presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama realised, it’s tough to talk to a regime that cheats with alacrity.

Mr Trump should return to the policy of maximum pressure. The US and its allies at the United Nations – along with China and Russia – need to double down on sanctions, withdraw Mr Pompeo from the talks and wind them back to the level of more junior officers. Mr Kim needs to be told sharing the global spotlight with the US President comes with obligations and responsibilities. Now is the time for Mr Trump to act with determined resolve.