Grieving parents of Luke Gilbert slam Queensland government

The parents of a young man killed in Airlie Beach have written a heartfelt open letter to Premier Steven Miles, calling for an independent inquiry into the police shooting in the wake of a coronial inquest.

Darren and Nicola Gilbert's son Luke Gilbert, 24, was shot and killed by Queensland Police officers in Airlie Beach in October 2022. Mr Gilbert's death is the subject of an coronial inquest currently being held in the Cairns Coroner's Court. Picture: Brendan Radke

Parents of a man shot and killed by Queensland Police in Airlie Beach two years ago have used the fever of the Queensland elections to write an open letter to Premier Steven Miles.

Darren and Nicola Gilbert said they just want answers as to why their son Luke Gilbert was shot multiple times by police in 2022.

In their open letter, they called for another independent inquiry into the police shooting death.

The parents said when the police knocked on their door to inform them their son was dead, they said they didn’t know the circumstances and left within three minutes.

An inquest into the death of Luke Gilbert, 24, who was shot three times in the chest by two police officers at Airlie Beach on October 1, 2022, is being held in Cairns this week. Picture: Supplied

They described the legal system and coronial inquest they had to navigate after Luke’s death “almost as brutal as the loss itself” as they dealt with lawyers, police, and media.

“The worst part is sitting for four days in a court with not a single person who ever met your child,” they said.

“The worst part is hearing all these people pour over and pick apart his whole life for no other reason than to justify his death.”

The parents blasted the state, expressing dissatisfaction with how the coroner’s inquiry played out.

“All this in a year when Queensland police shot more people than the rest of Australia combined, which is a dark stain on your term in government,” they said in the open letter to the Premier.

“This case will be the catalyst for change that is so desperately needed in the Queensland Police Service and the Queensland justice system.”

Luke Gilbert, 24, died after being shot three times in the chest at 12.20am by Senior Constable David Murray and Constable Liam Forster, who were patrolling the safe night precinct on Shute Harbour Rd at Airlie Beach on October 1, 2022. Picture: Supplied

Premier Miles’ team said the government extends its sincere condolences to the family.

“The advice is that circumstances surrounding Mr Gilbert’s death are still being considered by the State Coroner,” a government spokesperson said.

“Queensland Coroners are independent officers who have exclusive jurisdiction over the examinations surrounding reportable deaths. As the matter is before the Coroner it would be inappropriate to make any further comment.”

Queensland Police Service was given the opportunity to comment and declined.