Mareeba police shooting: Cops not wearing body-worn cameras during fatal incident

Specialist officers who shot and killed domestic violence offender Aubrey Donahue were not wearing body-worn cameras.

• Victim’s twin brother leads protest

Specialist officers who shot and killed domestic violence offender Aubrey Donahue were not wearing body-worn cameras, but police union boss Ian Leavers says he was “definitely brandishing a knife” and threatening a hostage.

Tensions in the Far North community of Mareeba were yesterday boiling over after the shooting death of Mr Donahue on Saturday.

Police were sent to Love St just before 11.30am following reports of a domestic violence incident where a man was holding a woman hostage and threatening self-harm.

Negotiators were called in to talk to the 28-year-old, who they believed was armed with a knife.

Police said specialist officers shot Mr Donahue when he came at them with the weapon about 3.30pm.

He died at the scene.

Mr Donahue’s family have claimed he did not have a knife when he was shot and have demanded video footage of the shooting.

The Courier-Mail has been told the specialist police who went into the house did not have body-worn cameras.

However it is understood audio and footage was captured by others not involved in the shooting.

Desley Ketchup dances in joy at the release of her son Algen Donahue. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said because the matter was before the coroner, he was limited in what he could say but that he must “correct the misinformation” stated by some people.

“Despite reports to the contrary, I can confirm the violent offender was definitely brandishing a knife and threatening the hostage,” he said.

“I can confirm the offender had an extensive history of highly violent domestic violence incidents.

“All police involved in this matter performed professionally, responsibly and with great restraint.

“Police only acted when it was clear that the life of an innocent hostage was in jeopardy.”

Mr Leavers said police were called specifically about a serious domestic violence incident and not a mental health issue.

The mother of Aubrey Donahue grieves at a community meeting held at the Mareeba Community Church Fellowship in the wake of his fatal shooting. Picture: Brendan Radke

“All police involved should be commended for their actions and it was pleasing to see that the new domestic violence situations assessment tool brought in as a result of the recent Commission of Inquiry into domestic violence was utilised and it demonstrated that the offender was identified as `extreme’ in every single assessment category,” he said.

“We are very lucky that police were able to prevent the murder of an innocent domestic violence victim.”

Tensions further escalated yesterday when Mr Donahue’s twin brother Algen appeared in court after being arrested the day of his brother’s death.

He appeared briefly in court and was granted bail.

An angry crowd of up to 300 people gathered outside the court building chanting anti-police slogans and taunting officers tasked with keeping the peace.

But the taunts turned to cheers when Algen appeared and he joined them as they led a march down the town’s main street.

Algen Donahue, the brother of Aubrey Donahue, leads a march through the streets of Mareeba after his twin brother was shot dead on Saturday. Picture: Peter Carruthers

The crowd waved signs that read “stop killing us” and “black lives matter” and slammed fists into road signs and threw bottles at police stationed along the route.

However, Mareeba police said the crowd was generally well-behaved.

Mr Donahue’s mother, Desley Ketchup, said the family wanted answers.

“This is traumatising me,” she said.

“I want answers, just give me the answers. I want justice, that’s all I want.

“I want answers, why my son is dead now from bullet holes?”

Uncle Adam Turner said Mr Donahue was passionate about Indigenous culture.

“They both (twin brothers) went into jail recently and this is the first time they have been out together and things had been good for a while,” he said.

“Aubrey didn’t want to go back to jail, I know that much.”

Mareeba Mayor Angella Toppin was relieved the release of Mr Donahue quelled the angry crowd.

“We hope that the peace and quiet continues,” she said.

Mareeba business owners expressed concern about the threat of violence posed by the gathering of the crowd on Monday.

Police have promised a full and independent investigation into the shooting, which is being conducted by the Ethical Standards Command on behalf of the State Coroner, with oversight from the Crime and Corruption Commission.