Corrective Services officer to face trial over Lismore shooting death

Numulgi man Dwayne Johnstone was being held on remand for charges he was planning to defend when he was fatally shot.

Dwayne Johnstone, who was allegedly fatally shot by a Corrective Services NSW officer outside Lismore Base Hospital in March, 2019.

A Corrective Services NSW officer will face trial over the shooting death of a man in custody outside Lismore Base Hospital.

The officer, whose name has been suppressed by the court, appeared by video link before Lismore Local Court on Wednesday.

He stands charged with manslaughter over the alleged shooting death of Numulgi man Dwayne Johnstone.

Mr Johnstone, aged 43, was being held on remand for charges he was planning to defend when he was taken to Lismore Base Hospital for treatment on March 15, 2019.

Police were called to the scene about 7.30pm that evening after reports of a shooting outside the hospital.

The prosecution will allege the accused Corrective Services officer fatally shot Mr Johnstone while he was attempting to escape custody.

He was treated in the hospital immediately after the incident but died shortly afterwards.

In court on Wednesday, DPP prosecutor Kate Owens explained the case was to be committed to the district court for trial.

“A case conference took place on October 8,” Mrs Owens said.

Another prosecutor, Clare Magni, filed sealed documents that arose from that conference with the court.

The officer was scheduled to be arraigned before Lismore District Court on November 29.

Some family members of the deceased observed the proceedings via telephone.