Inquest: Killer removed tracking device before stabbing Brisbane couple in their Parkinson home

The man who was shot dead by police after he murdered an elderly Brisbane couple in their home last year had only been released from prison three months prior, a pre-inquest hearing has heard.

An inquest into the deaths of an elderly couple killed in Queensland’s first alleged terror attack has been set down for early next year.

Zoe And Maurice Antill were allegedly murdered in their Parkinson home by purported Islamic State supporter Raghe Abdi in December 2020.

A knife-wielding Abdi was later shot dead in a confrontation with police on the Logan Motorway.

A pre-inquest hearing in Southport Coroners Court on Thursday heard the police briefs were not yet complete and the autopsies for Mr and Mrs Antill had still not arrived.

Counsel assisting the corner, Rhiannon Helsen, said there had been ‘significant progress’ on the briefs but they were not finished.

Raghe Abdi during his school days. Photograph; Renae Droop

Deputy Coroner Jane Bentley ordered the briefs be delivered by December 3 and set down another pre-inquest hearing next February.

The inquest proper was set down for April 4-8 next year.

An earlier pre-inquest hearing in March heard Abdi had been released on bail in September 2020 and was required to wear a tracking device which was removed at some point before the couple were Antills were killed three months later.

Ms Helsen told the coroner’s court then that it was believed Mr Antill, 87, and Mrs Antill, 86, were killed on either December 16 or 17 at their home.

“Mr and Mrs Antill’s bodies were discovered by police in the afternoon of the 17th of December 2020 after a welfare check was called in by a health care worker who provided assistance to the couple,” she said.

“All prior attempts to contact the couple had been unsuccessful, which was reportedly quite out of character.”

Ms Helsen told the court that after forcibly entering the property, police found Mr and Mrs Antill lying dead in their back yard.

A still from a dash cam showing QLD Police intercepting Raghe Abdi on the Logan Motorway Motorway.

“From the information currently available it appears Mr and Mrs Antill had sustained fatal stab wounds and blunt force trauma, predominantly to their neck and chest,” she said.

“The back door to the dwelling was found to be open however inside the house was found to be neat and tidy.

“No other persons were located in or around the property.

“As both deaths were clearly suspicious, a crime scene was declared and detectives were called to attend.”

Ms Helsen said investigations suggested the couple were killed by Raghe Abdi who was shot and killed by police on the Logan Motorway on December 17.

“Police had been alerted to Mr Abdi’s presence in the breakdown area of the Logan Motorway at around 6 that morning and had attended attempting to move him from the area and the evident danger,” she said.

Police at the murder scene of Zoe and Maurice Antill who were killed by Raghe Abdi in December 2020.

“Mr Abdi was reportedly agitated and pulled a knife from his pocket.

“He was directed to put down the weapon however continued to brandish the knife while moving towards police and was then fatally shot.”

Ms Helsen said body worn camera footage from one of the officers captured the incident and would be used as part of the coronial inquest.

She said Mr Abdi had been granted bail months earlier in September 2020 and one of the requirements of his release was that he wear a tracking bracelet while in the community.

“This had been removed prior to the interaction with police on that motorway,” she said.

Ms Helsen said police investigations were still underway and post mortem reports were unlikely to be received “for some time”.

Maurice Antill.

“It is anticipated given the scope of these investigations that it will be a number of months before any coronial reports outlining the evidence obtained or the conclusions reached are able to be submitted,” she said.

She said given the intrinsic links between the three deaths it was proposed all three matters should be heard at one conjoint inquest.

Ms Helsen said the inquest would explore the circumstances of all three deaths, the appropriateness of the police actions in relation to Mr Abdi and the adequacy of police investigations.