Inquest into death of Tyson Jessen, who was shot while under guard at Ipswich Hospital

A senior Queensland Police officer has conceded there would have been “catastrophic consequences” if a violent prisoner under guard in the Ipswich Hospital had been successful in his attempts to wrestle a gun from an officer before he was shot dead.

A senior Queensland Police officer has conceded there would have been “catastrophic consequences” if a violent prisoner under guard in the Ipswich Hospital had been successful in his attempts to wrestle a gun from an officer.

Tyson Jessen was shot dead after a violent altercation in which he attempted to take a female police officer’s gun, punching her in the face and attacking a nurse who came to her aid in November 2018.

An inquest into his death has revealed claims the officers assigned to guard the dangerous prisoner did not even know Jessen’s name, let alone his criminal history or why he had been arrested.

Counsel assisting the coroner Melinda Zerner previously told a pre-inquest hearing that Jessen was wanted for extradition to Victoria for armed robbery in late 2018.

Officers in that state had urged Queensland Police to send a special operations team to arrest Jessen at a Brisbane gym due to his demeanour, physical size, access to firearms, steroid abuse, and violent criminal history which included setting a person on fire.

Tyson Jessen, the man shot dead by police in Ipswich Hospital. Photo Supplied Victoria Police

During an obstructed arrest, Jessen reported having chest pain so he was taken to the Ipswich Hospital and placed under police guard where he was watched over by officers throughout a number of shifts.

On the night he was shot, one of the two police guarding Jessen had gone on a dinner break and he used the opportunity to attack Senior Constable Leesa Richardson, forcing her down and repeatedly punching her in the face as he tried to take her weapon.

Snr Const Richardson managed to draw her gun and fired upon Jessen who later died despite attempts to revive him.

Ipswich Police Station Officer In Charge Senior Sergeant Elizabeth Watson Burns-Hutchison agreed under questioning in the Brisbane Coroners Court on Monday that Jessen should not have been housed in hospital alongside members of the public.

Senior Constable Leesa Richardson was savagely beaten by Tyson Jessen as he tried to take her gun.

“Would you agree that if Mr Jessen had been able to obtain my client Sen Const Richardson’s firearm on that day there would have been catastrophic consequences,” lawyer Calvin Gnech asked.

“More than likely, yes,” Snr Sgt Burns-Hutchison said.

“That’s because he would have been a violent man in possession of a firearm?,” Mr Gnech asked.

“Yes,” she replied.

The court heard that while Jessen at first remained handcuffed at all times except to eat and go to the toilet, at some point officers on a prior shift had chosen to remove the cuffs which were still off when Sen Const Richardson and her partner arrived for duty.

“You’d accept in hindsight now this man should have never been housed collectively with members of the public should he,” Mr Gnech asked.

“I wouldn’t think so no,” Snr Sgt Burns-Hutchison said.

The inquest continues and will investigate whether Jessen was appropriately accommodated at the hospital, whether the actions of the guarding police officers were appropriate, if the officers had the appropriate information and whether similar deaths can be prevented.