Grieving father of Jeffrey Brooks says now top Queensland policeman Mike Condon gave them an angry spray

A CONTROVERSIAL police officer who would go on to become one of the state’s top cops threatened the father of a shooting victim who was critical of the investigation, an inquest was told.

• The valley of guns and threats
• Private eye uncovers shock new evidence

A CONTROVERSIAL police officer who would go on to become one of the state’s top cops threatened the father of a shooting victim after he was critical of the investigation, an inquest was told.

The officer, then Detective Sergeant Mike Condon, was “very angry’’ and his tirade left the father badly shaken, the court heard.

Mike Condon was a detective sergeant who allegedly left the victim’s father shaken by an angry response after his work was questioned. He is now Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner. Picture: AAP/Dan Peled

Mr Condon, now an Assistant Commissioner, was recently embroiled in a marathon investigation into misconduct and corruption claims relating to the Daniel Morcombe inquest. He was cleared by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

Testimony relating to this encounter earlier in his career was revealed at the coronial inquest into the mysterious death of young scientist Jeffrey Brooks at the Beenleigh Crayfish Farm on March 13, 1996.

Police believed Jeffrey, 24, of northern NSW, accidentally shot himself with a rickety old shotgun as he tried to retrieve it – barrel first – from the front seat of a utility to scare away birds stealing stock from the dams.

However, family, friends and the farm’s owners, as well as independent investigators and crime experts, have grave doubts about this theory. Backed by a new investigation by The Courier-Mail, the family wants the case reopened.

Jeffrey’s father, Lawrie Brooks, a retired engineer, took a keen interest in the hunt for answers and was in regular contact with Sgt Condon.

Mr Brooks Snr told the inquest, before Coroner Trevor Anders at Beenleigh on April 7, 1998, that he had “critical issues which I wanted some answers to’’.

He said six months after the death, he phoned Sgt Condon and found find him to be “really angry’’.

Jeffrey Brooks’ parents Laurie and Wendy Brooks, want answers on their son’s death in 1996. Picture: AAP/Tim Marsden

“He said ‘you dobbed me in to the Ombudsman, didn’t you?’ to which I replied ‘No’.’’

Mr Brooks told the court the officer said: “If there is a hearing, I will find out who did (tell the Ombudsman) and that person will be sorry’’.

“I took that as a direct threat,’’ Mr Brooks said.

“I’m not used to being threatened by people, by police officers. I was very shaken and I reported that straight to my wife.’’

The shock allegations were unchallenged during the inquest by the lawyer representing police.

Mr Condon, now Assistant Commissioner Southern Region, told The Courier-Mail: “If any person has any concerns about my conduct during the Brooks investigation they should report their concerns to the appropriate authorities.’’

The Courier-Mail is telling Jeffrey’s story in the true crime podcast Dead Wrong.

Click on the player above to listen here, or download from iTunes or find it on your preferred podcast platform.