Coroner to deliver findings into scientist Jeffrey Brooks’ death at crayfish farm

The parents of Jeffrey Brooks never believed his shooting death at Beenleigh Crayfish Farm was an accident, as police found it was. Now they hope their decades-long campaign for justice is nearing an end.

The parents of a promising young Queensland scientist who died in mysterious circumstances in 1996 hope their “long and difficult” quest for justice is nearing an end as a coroner prepares to weigh in on the case next month.

Coroner Donald MacKenzie will hand down his findings on June 13 following an inquest into the death of Jeffrey Brooks who died from a gunshot wound at the Beenleigh Crayfish Farm where he worked.

The police who investigated the 24-year-old newlywed’s death found it had been an accident, saying it was likely he was shot while trying to pull a loaded shotgun barrel-first from a work ute.

But Lawrie and Wendy Brooks say a “mountain” of circumstantial evidence supports their belief that their beloved son was killed.

Lawrie and Wendy Brooks, parents of Jeffrey Brooks who died at a Beenleigh crayfish farm. Picture: David Martinelli

They hope the evidence, which included testimony from 17 witnesses called at an inquest last year, will be enough for the coroner to refer the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions to further investigate and consider bringing criminal charges.

Jeffrey Brooks.

“His death changed our close-knit family forever and although we have endeavoured to get on with our lives they will never be the same this side of eternity,” Mrs Brooks said.

“Jeffrey is not just part of our past, he is also part of our future.”

The inquest heard tensions were high at the crayfish farm in the lead up to Jeffrey’s death and the young scientist told a number of people he feared for his life.

The coroner also heard crucial evidence had been lost, destroyed or never collected by investigators.

Months after a 1997 coronial inquiry that resulted in an open finding, the weapon used in Jeffrey’s death was destroyed.

Mr Brooks said a number of ballistics tests with similar weapons had not been able to replicate Jeffrey’s fatal injuries in the way police described them happening – this included tests commissioned by The Courier-Mail as part of its Dead Wrong podcast which sparked the 2022 inquest.

The Beenleigh Crayfish Farm in the mid-90s.

“No one has ever been able to demonstrate that Jeffrey could have shot himself with that

gun, in that vehicle receiving the wound size and angle of the shot that he had,” he said.

Jeffrey’s parents are adamant their safety-conscious son would not have used the faulty 1901-model gun and said he had promised his wife he would not touch it.

“We knew our precious son very well, as did many of the witnesses,” Mrs Brooks said.

“We know he was a devoted Christian who was honest, trustworthy, ethical, did not lie and always kept his word, his word was his pledge, if he promised something he kept his promise.

“He promised his wife Nicky that after acquiring his new gun, that he would never use the old one again so he didn’t…”.

The couple has campaigned for almost 30 years to ensure justice for their son.

“It’s been very difficult,” Mrs Brooks said of the stressful process.

“But he deserves it.”

Mr and Mrs Brooks, who sat through every minute of the seven day inquest last year, will be in court next month to hear Coroner MacKenzie’s findings.