Jeffrey Brooks: Family heartbroken after decision on crayfish farm shooting death

The family of a young scientist shot dead while working at a crayfish farm say they lost their “last ray of hope” after an inquest failed to result in charges against two people named by a coroner.

The family of a scientist shot dead while working at a crayfish farm south of Brisbane say they lost their “last ray of hope” after being informed by the Director of Public Prosecutions there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges against two people named by a coroner.

Jeffrey Brooks died in 1996 from a shotgun wound to the chest while working as an aquaculturist at the Beenleigh crayfish farm.

Police at the time determined the 24-year-old had shot himself by accident while pulling a loaded and faulty shotgun barrel-first from a car.

But Mr Brooks’s parents, Lawrie and Wendy Brooks, always believed their son had met with foul play, arguing he was extremely careful with guns and the coroner later heard that his death had come at a time when he’d approached the owners to make allegations about his co-workers.

Wendy and Lawrie Brooks, Jeffrey Brooks inquest, Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

A podcast series produced by The Courier-Mail called Dead Wrong resulted in Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath ordering a new inquest.

That inquest, held in late 2022, heard evidence that Jeffrey had approached the farm owners to report farm manager Johannes ‘Hans’ Geiger and his then-wife Regine Kjellerup had been selling crayfish for cash on the side.

Both Mr Geiger and Ms Kjellerup have denied any involvement in Jeffrey’s death.

The inquest also heard Jeffrey’s death came at a time when the farm was under severe financial strain and the owners had laid off all workers except the young scientist, who they were talking to about potentially taking it over.

Coroner Donald MacKenzie found Mr Geiger was a man “quick to lose his temper” who had written to relatives in Germany shortly before Jeffrey’s death of a plan to buy the farm cheaply after “running down its profitability”.

He also found Mr Geiger’s alibi was incomplete and that he had motive and opportunity.

Coroner MacKenzie said while there was not enough evidence to find a specific person had shot Jeffrey, it was his view that “there is sufficient evidence on which to support a reasonable suspicion on my part that Hans Geiger and Regine Kjellerup were involved in Jeffrey’s death”.

“I wish to make it perfectly clear that I am not making a finding that Mr Geiger and Ms Kjellerup are or might be guilty of a criminal offence,” he said.

“There is evidence of statements by the deceased of concern for his life, motive, aggressive behaviour 24 hours before the shooting, opportunity, and post-offence behaviour which potentially incriminates both … I have referred the brief of evidence to the Director of Prosecutions on this basis.”

But in a letter in late May to the Brooks’ solicitor, Peter Boyce, DPP Todd Fuller said no further action would be taken.

Lawrie and Wendy Brooks, parents of Jeffrey Brooks, who died at the Beenleigh Crayfish Farm. Photo – David Martinelli.

The letter came after several apologies for delays in getting to the brief of evidence.

“After careful consideration of the whole of the evidence I have determined that neither Mr Geiger nor Ms Kjellerup will be referred to the Queensland Police Service for further investigation with a view to them being charged. The available evidence is insufficient for prosecution, consistent with the responsibilities of my office,” he wrote.

“I note that the final paragraph of the Coroner’s findings records that QPS consider that investigation into Mr Brooks’ death remains open and any further admissible evidence would be investigated.”

Jeffrey’s mother Wendy said the coroner’s findings had been their “last ray of hope” for justice.

“It looks like all the doors have been shut in our face, slammed in our face,” she said.

“We’re extremely disappointed. I think they’re thinking that if they ignore us long enough, they won’t have to do anything.”

Her husband Lawrie said: “We want to know, how on earth will anything new ever come up if nobody is looking at it?”

Lawyer Peter Boyce, who supported the family through the inquest pro bono, said he was extremely disappointed that the family had been given hope, only for it to go no further.

“It’s just a joke really. It’s disgraceful,” he said.

“To say we’re not going to do anything, but, by the way, it’s still an open investigation … it’s just terrible.”

A spokesperson from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said a thorough review of the brief of evidence had been conducted.

“It was determined there was insufficient evidence to direct that the matter be further investigated,” the spokesperson said.

“The view expressed by the ODPP accords with that of the Coroner … who only formed a reasonable suspicion of involvement by two named persons in the death of Jeffrey Brooks, and no higher.

“It is noted that the QPS investigation remains open.”