Brett Forte inquest: Susie Forte fights to release victim impact statement

The widow of police officer Brett Forte, murdered by a paranoid gunman four years ago, is fighting for her right to share “the truth”, claiming she is being silenced yet again.

The heartbroken family of murdered police officer Brett Forte say his widow Susie is being silenced by the Queensland Police Service after lawyers objected to her reading aloud a victim impact statement.

Senior Constable Susie Forte, Brett’s brother Luke and his wife Katy leapt to their feet in extraordinary scenes in the Queensland Coroner’s Court yesterday upon hearing the grieving widow would not be able to have her say.

“This is so unfair. I am being silenced yet again,” a furious Susie told State Coroner Terry Ryan after interrupting an argument over whether she should be allowed to speak.

Senior Constable Brett Forte was murdered by fugitive gunman Ricky Maddison on May 29, 2017.

Maddison opened fire on police with an automatic weapon after leading them into an ambush along Wallers Rd in the Lockyer Valley.

Brett was hit multiple times and died at the scene. His partner, Senior Constable Cath Nielsen, smashed the windscreen of their car and pulled him out in an attempt to save his life, despite being under fire herself.

Maddison was killed by specialist police following a 20 hour siege.

Susie Forte, widow of murdered police officer Brett Forte, arrives at inquest into her husband’s death. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The inquest, which sat for two weeks earlier this year, previously heard allegations from both Susie and Sen Const Nielsen that they’d been bullied and ostracised after they asked questions about whether Brett’s death could have been prevented.

Many of their questions related to whether officers from Toowoomba’s Tactical Crime Squad should have shared information about an investigation into reports of automatic gunfire on Wallers Rd.

It was discovered only after Brett’s death that Maddison – at the time Toowoomba’s most wanted man – had been hiding at a friend’s property on Wallers Rd.

The inquest heard yesterday that Ethical Standards Command Detective Senior Sergeant Fiona Hinshelwood had lodged “466s” – official police complaints – against Susie and Sen Const Nielsen after they spoke out at the inquest in April.

The complaints have not been substantiated.

Senior Constable Brett Forte.

Det Sen Sgt Hinshelwood also admitted she had told Brett’s father Stuart she would be making the complaints.

“On the last day of the inquest up in Toowoomba, you approached him and said to him words of the effect that you would be completing a raft of 466s (official police complaints) with Susie and Cath Nielsen as the subjects,” Susie’s barrister David Funch, instructed by Howden Saggers Lawyers, said yesterday.

“I did not say `a raft’,” Det Sen Sgt Hinshelwood replied.

“I said I would be completing a 466 in relation to the allegations that had come out at the inquest and it was my obligation to do so.”

She denied she had told the murdered officer’s father about her intent in order to intimidate the women.

Det Sen Sgt Hinshelwood said her complaint against Susie related to her not making allegations raised in the inquest in a “timely manner”, although she could not say what constituted “timely”.

She told the court the rules were contained in a “lengthy document”.

At the completion of yesterday’s witness testimony, Mr Funch asked that Susie be allowed to read aloud a victim impact statement.

But its contents sparked a flurry of protests from counsel assisting the Coroner Rhiannon Helsen and lawyers representing various serving police officers – including one representing Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll.

“A lot of the content of this is new information and some of it quite defamatory in nature,” Ms Helsen said.

“Reading it to the court, not only would it take a long period of time, I would argue it’s actually an abuse of process.

“They are Ms Forte’s feelings and her thoughts about things but also there is a lot of information that relates to people that aren’t even a part of this inquest.”

The moment Ricky Maddison gunned down Senior Constable Brett Forte.

Mr Funch argued that Ms Helsen had months earlier emailed him to say Coroner Terry Ryan had given permission for Susie to read a victim impact statement.

Barrister Troy Schmidt, who represents several police officers, also argued vigorously against it.

“I’d go so far as to (say) it’s a personal attack on certain witnesses, officers of this court and upon the court itself,” he said.

“Particularly there is a suggestion that evidence produced has been hand-picked, certain witnesses have not been not called and questions and concerns not investigated by this court.

“In my submission that is borderline contempt at the very least.”

The Commissioner’s lawyer said he needed more time to digest the contents of the lengthy statement.

Brett Forte’s brother Chris. Picture: Zak Simmonds

A furious Susie asked to be heard by the Coroner, pleading with him to let her read it aloud.

“I have waited four and a half years to have my say,” she said. “The QPS has not looked out for me whatsoever. They have tried to silence me. The truth hurts. What is in that statement is the absolute truth. I would not be here if my husband hadn’t been murdered.

“This is so unfair. I am being silenced yet again.

Brett’s sister in law, Katy Forte, also pleaded with the Coroner to allow Susie to read her statement.

“We have stood here for two weeks in Toowoomba and had everyone else speak.

“They have all had their opportunity. It is her turn to have her voice. It is her right to be heard.”

Brett’s brother Luke said: “Susie’s husband, my brother, is lying in a box in Toowoomba. Surely she gets the right to say what she’s going to say.”

Coroner Ryan adjourned the hearing for seven days, issuing a non-publication order on the contents of her statement to allow it to be properly examined as to whether it is suitable to be read aloud.

Outside court, Brett’s emotional brother Luke said the “QPS system is broken”.

“You can be a widow with three children in the most horrific circumstances, be bullied, intimidated and isolated – yet you still can’t be afforded the right to speak as a victim.

“I am heartbroken for my brother’s wife Susie.”

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll, in a statement to The Courier-Mail, said she understood it was a “very difficult and emotional time” for Brett’s family, friends and colleagues.

“His tragic death has had a long-lasting impact on his family, his colleagues and the wider QPS, and many of our staff are still hurting,” she said.

“Supporting and improving our people’s wellbeing is something I am extremely passionate about, and its importance cannot be understated.

“It is not appropriate to go into more detail given the coronial proceedings are ongoing.

“Once the QPS receives the Coroner’s findings, they will be thoroughly examined to ensure any necessary changes are implemented to ensure the safety of our workforce and the Queensland community.”

Originally published as Brett Forte inquest: Susie Forte fights to release victim impact statement