Last moments of Bryson Anderson’s life revealed
HERO police officer Bryson Anderson’s family and his former colleagues packed Glebe Coroners Court this morning as the last moments of his life were revealed at an inquest.
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HERO police officer Bryson Anderson’s family and his former colleagues packed Glebe Coroners Court this morning as the last moments of his life were revealed at an inquest.
Detective Inspector Anderson, 45, was stabbed to death as he dealt with a mother and son, both described as “nutters”, at a rural property at Oakville in Sydney’s northwest on December 6, 2012.
The mentally ill pair had refused to leave their home when police were called by their neighbour after the son, Mitchell Barbieri, then 19, had fired arrows into their property.
There has been 38 entries about Mitchell and his mother Fiona on the police COPS system since 2002 with the situation escalating to 27 notifications between 2010 and 2012, counsel assisting the coroner Peggy Dwyer said today.
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Both mother and son were known to officers who had described them as “nutters” the inquest was told as Det Insp Anderson’s wife Donna, his mother Shirley and his two sons listened.
Police wearing ballistic vests surrounded the Oakvale property as father-of-three Det Insp Anderson moved to the rear of the home. He was heard to shout: “Break the door, we are going in. They are under arrest.”
Inside, Mitchell Barbieri was seen turning the knob on a gas bottle which was part of a weed flamethrower.
As the mother and son’s two bull mastiff hunting dogs were sprayed with capsicum spray, Mitchell Barbieri stabbed Insp Anderson in the chest and face with a large hunting knife.
The police critical investigation team had to carry out a full forensic and “fearful” investigation to find out what went wrong which should not reflect on the individually actions of any of the officers that day, Ms Dwyer said.
Mitchell Barbieri pleaded guilty to murder but his sentence of 35 years with a non-parole period of 26 years was slashed on appeal to 21 years three months with minimum term of 15 years because of his mental impairment.
His mother pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds that she was suffering a mental impairment and was jailed for 10 years with a minimum term of six years and six months.
“The court is aware of the horrific pain that the Anderson family have had to go through,” Ms Dwyer said.
Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan is expected to hand down her findings and recommendations later today.