Big-game hunter shoots hero cops answering domestic violence SOS call

Eric Newman was a fanatical big-game trophy hunter who revelled in killing wildlife like giraffes and zebras. On Friday night Newman used his marksmanship to shoot Sergeant Mark Johnston in the face and Senior Constable Helen McMurtrie in the neck as they attended to a domestic violence complaint. He then turned the gun on himself.

Two police officers were shot and are recovering from serious injuries.

The man who shot two police officers before turning his gun on himself was an avid big game hunter who travelled the world killing ­vulnerable animals.

A neighbour, who asked not to be identified, said Eric “Ric” Newman and his wife had gone to Africa on hunting trips and their house was filled with trophies.

“He was a keen trophy hunter and had a lot of taxidermy in his house — giraffes, bears, you name it,” the neighbour said.

Eric Newman and his wife Lesley at a big-game hunt. Picture: Facebook

Facebook photos of the couple show one in which they are grinning wildly, posing with a giraffe they had just killed.

Other photos show their house decorated with animal trophies, ­including a zebra skin, a bear and animal heads mounted on the walls.

Friends estimated he had ­between 20 and 30 guns in his home that he used for hunting.

Newman, 74, shot himself after a standoff in which he shot two police officers from the balcony of his home in Glen Innes, in the state’s northwest.

The incident began when Senior Constable Helen McMurtrie, Sergeant Mark Johnston and a female probationary constable went to the Church St home just before 11pm on Friday in response to a domestic ­violence complaint.

Animal trophies in Newman’s home. Picture: Facebook

They found Newman standing on the balcony with a rifle and one neighbour said police drew their guns and slowly approached the two-storey home.

The officers yelled at Newman to drop the weapon. Instead, he shouted back before opening fire, shooting Sen Const McMurtrie in the neck and Sgt Johnston in the face with the same bullet.

Sen Const McMurtrie’s ­colleagues dragged her ­behind a nearby car. She was later flown to gold Coast Hospital and placed in an induced coma. She is expected to survive.

Sgt Johnston suffered a gunshot wound to the face and underwent surgery at the same hospital to have bullet fragments removed from his cheek.

The third officer was a probationary constable only four weeks into the job.

Senior Constable Helen McMurtrie was in a coma last night, after being shot in the neck by Newman.

Neighbour Dianne Carpenter, who saw the shooting unfold, said the officers drew their weapons as they approached Newman’s home.

“They told him to put his gun down, they told him a couple of times,” she said. “He yelled out something back but I couldn’t understand it.

“Then a car turned up with three women, I think it was his wife and her daughter. The police stopped them at the corner. The wife looked quite frantic and upset.”

Ms Carpenter said the officers yelled at Newman again to drop his weapon: “When the first shot went the three officers dropped to the ground and then 10 to 20 seconds later there was a second shot.”

Newman’s wife Lesley was found nearby with minor injuries.

Police have now set up a critical incident investigation to find out why Newman turned violent.

Sargent Mark Johnston, pictured with his wife, was shot in the face and required surgery.

Friends said Newman had been busy planning a surprise 60th birthday party for his wife that was meant to take place today.

“He was planning a party for her and he was going to get her sister to come out from overseas,” friend Rodney Hayden said. “They never had any arguments. It’s just terrible, we can’t believe it.”

Police Assistant Commissioner Geoff Mckechnie said Newman fired a long-arm rifle and that none of the officers fired their weapons. One shot was fired at the officers and Newman killed himself with the second.

“We’re very mindful that we could have lost the officers,” Mr Mckechnie said. “Thank goodness we haven’t and the whole police family wishes them both a speedy recovery from their injuries.”

Police forensics officers examine the officers’ gun at the scheme. Picture: Julian Andrews

One neighbour, known only as Will, applied pressure to Sen-Const McMurtrie’s neck.

“She looked like she was pretty critical,” he said “It must have been pretty deep if she was getting cold. She was saying she was starting to feel tired.”

The probationary constable had only been in the job for four weeks.

Snr Const McMurtrie joined the police in the early ’90s and moved to Glen Innes several years ago. Her partner is a retired policeman and they have young children.

Sgt Johnston moved to Glen Innes about three years ago for a promotion and was previously stationed around Casino in northern NSW.

He is about to become a father of six, and served as a firefighter in Casino for 15 years.