Family of slain cop ‘disappointed’ US legal system supports Donald Day’s guilty plea deal linked to Wieambilla murders
The mother of murdered police officer Rachel McCrow has reacted after a US man linked to Australia’s deadliest police ambush is set to escape a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail.
The mother of murdered police officer Rachel McCrow says the family is very disappointed the US legal system has supported a plea agreement for an American man linked to Queensland’s deadliest shooting.
Donald Day pleaded guilty to a watered down indictment after prosecutors agreed to drop more serious charges alleging he threatened law enforcement officials in response to the murders of two police and a civilian at Wieambilla west of Brisbane in 2022.
Under the deal, Day pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of weapons that were found stashed in a gun room on a remote property where he had built a gun range and a sniper hide.
The plea deal was proposed to an Arizona court earlier this month and has now been signed off by a judge.
Day came to the attention of Australian police in 2022 after it was revealed he had been in contact with Queensland conspiracy theorists Gareth, Nathaniel and Stacey Train in the months before they killed their neighbour Alan Dare and two police officers, Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow.
Rachel’s mother on Wednesday expressed her disappointment in the US plea deal.
“We are very disappointed in the US legal system for supporting this plea agreement, and we are concerned with the precedent this is potentially setting,” Rachel’s mother Judy McCrow said.
“A person with illegal weapons – who is also unlicensed to use them – is a threat to society,” she claimed.
“There is substantial evidence that illegal weapons play a significant role in serious crime.”
Ms McCrow said Day chose to continue correspondence with the Wieambilla murderers and “continued to support and encourage them”.
“It is part of any investigation to explore all leads,” she said.
“He was identified as a key person of interest and if he didn’t do anything, then he would not have been arrested.
“We note his lawyer stated he has lost everything including his health, again if he didn’t do anything wrong there would be no issues.
“In the wake of our incredible losses, which are lifelong and impact us greatly, we have no sympathy for his attempt at seeking to portray himself as a victim.”
Queensland Police Union president Shane Prior said the plea deal was “extremely disappointing”.
“My heart is broken for the families of Matt and Rachel but also for Alan Dare’s family,” he said.
“This is not a good result, and that criminal should be spending the rest of his life behind bars and never see the day of sunlight again.”
Day pleaded guilty on Tuesday local time but will not face a sentencing hearing until January to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be compiled.
The Trains had been in regular contact with Day in the US in the months before the attack in December 2022.
After they killed their three victims, they posted a video on YouTube, saying: “they came to kill us, and we killed them. If you don’t defend yourself against these devils and demons, you’re a coward”.
Day made a video in response to the Trains, telling viewers “the devils come for us, they f***ing die. It’s just that simple. We are free people, we are owned by no one”.
The Trains were killed in a shootout with police and an inquest is ongoing.
Day was subsequently arrested by the FBI and charged with two counts of making interstate threats.
US prosecutors alleged the video was a threat against law enforcement. That charge was dropped as part of the plea agreement.
He was also charged with making threats against the boss of the World Health Organisation, however that charge was also dropped after pre-trial arguments.
The weapons charge Day pleaded guilty to carries a maximum penalty of 15 years, but deal will see him sentenced at the low end of the scale.
He has already served almost two years in custody which will count as time already served.
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Originally published as Family of slain cop ‘disappointed’ US legal system supports Donald Day’s guilty plea deal linked to Wieambilla murders
