Wieambilla inquest: Rachel McCrow’s heartbreaking message to family before brutal murder
The families of the police officers killed at the Wieambilla massacre have delivered raw and powerful impact statements, revealing new detail into the cold blooded murders.
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The families of slain police officers Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold have delivered raw and powerful impact statements on the final day of the mammoth Wieambilla inquest.
Counsel assisting the coroner, Ruth O’Gorman KC, made a statement to the inquest after the families spoke.
“Your Honour, before I commence my closing submissions, I wish to say that on behalf of all of those at the bar table, I acknowledge the statements that we’ve just heard,” she said.
“The depth of loss is unfathomable. But the depth of love clearly also knows no bounds, and I honour that loss and that love.”
Ms O’Gorman later spoke of the actions of all police officers being appropriate, and of changes made since the deadly ambush including to the use of radio channels and improved body armour and body-worn cameras.
In adjourning the inquest on Thursday to make his findings at a later date, Coroner Terry Ryan said there were “clearly lessons to be learned from this tragedy”.
RACHEL MCCROW’S FAMILY STATEMENT
Written on behalf of Judy and Samantha McCrow
Tomorrow – Friday, August 30 – Rachel would have turned 31. It will be a day marked by impossible grief. Not only for the loss of our beautiful “Rach”, but for the many years of promise we’d looked forward to sharing with her as a family.
Time isn’t healing our wounds, our trauma remains intense, and our memories are so hard to let go of.
We can’t escape the fallout from the calculated, premeditated evil which claimed Rachel on December 12, 2022, at Wieambilla.
Our beloved Rachel deserves open disclosure and full transparency.
The Inquest has exposed to the public the many despicable, disgusting and hate-filled acts which so brutally ended Rachel’s hopes and ambitions. Ambitions that would certainly have seen her quickly attain the position of a commissioned officer, as claimed by many.
Rachel excelled in her academic and operational training at the academy, where she’s remembered as a beautiful person who “was always willing to assist others”.
While there, she gave back to the community which included volunteering to help disadvantaged people obtain their required driving hours and raising money swimming in the national MS swimathon.
Graduating in June 2021, Rachel began her career at Dalby Police Station, and relieved in Miles for a short time, before transferring to Tara at the start of her second year. Her policing career lasted less than 18 months.
Rachel quickly became a much-loved and respected member of the Tara community and was proud of how she was about to be ‘the adopt a cop’ for a local school in 2023. However, she had genuine concerns about her transfer to Tara. In fact, she wasn’t keen to go, and we weren’t either because we’d heard stories about the large number of people with guns in that community. The whole time she was there, we worried about her.
Just another of life’s cruel “what if moments”...
Rachel’s time away from us at Tara though, made our family reunions even sweeter. Often she’d come home, sit down and simply say: “I love you”.
Bravely, according to her body-worn camera she’d been wearing at the Trains’ ambush site, and in the chaotic moments leading up to her brutal murder, she was telling us over and over, “I love you”. Messages we were not told about until three months after the event.
Rachel also recorded information about the murderers and the actions they were taking. Even in those last moments, she continued to use all of the skills she’d been trained for! For nearly eight minutes she fought back alone.
Having already been shot three times, suffering extensive injuries, in pain, petrified and with no one else helping her – she fired at the offenders 15 times. EVERY bullet she had in her police-issued Glock.
With nothing else left that she could do and no one to help her, she put on a tourniquet to try and stem the bleeding.
As you said, Ms O’Gorman on the very first day of this inquest, Rachel “showed great courage under fire”.
Rachel – we want you to know – “we love you so much, too”. We will never stop loving you. We will never forget your commitment, passion and dedication to your job.
We want you to know – we will never stop speaking on your behalf – giving you a VOICE. And we will never stop asking questions, however uncomfortable they may be.
On behalf of Rachel, we demand REAL CHANGE, so that other families are steered away from the painful path we’ve been forced to take.
We want to ensure other families of officers, injured or killed while on duty, are informed in a timely and supportive way. The media were already reporting Rachel’s death before we were told at 9.20pm. Over four and a half hours after she was fatally shot.
Adding to our stress and sadness – we’ve been kept in the dark in terms of some of the official investigation into the circumstances surrounding what unfolded on December 12, 2022.
We’ve been told things which have turned out to be wrong – or NOT told other relevant things in a timely manner during the investigation process.
In addition, the constant changes in witness scheduling and the inquest process has heightened the distress of our already fragile emotional wellbeing.
Rachel must never become just another statistic and every police officer must be able to feel safe.
They must be protected, undergo the best training, have the best equipment and they must use their skills and knowledge to keep colleagues and our society safe.
The powers-to-be must learn from this tragedy, and the gaps identified in processes, procedures or policies to reduce the likelihood of further lives being lost.
Fix the communications black spots that render police radios and iPads useless in remote areas with several witnesses telling the Inquest how their reception dropped out regularly around Wieambilla.
Police have too many vital decisions to make and choosing the correct radio frequency shouldn’t be one of them.
Why not simplify or modernise the system so police don’t have to be concerned with “trying to find” the best radio frequency? Surely this should be an automated process.
We also believe there is now – unfortunately – irrefutable evidence for an expansion of the QPS’ aerial drone capability to provide greater support in policing activities.
A greater investment in these new Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) should be a priority.
Police drones – fitted for example with cameras, spotlights, sirens and loudspeakers -should be standard in EVERY vehicle. All Police officers should undergo this specialist training, which currently involves five hours initially and then one hour every year.
Instead of being forced to enter jobs “blind” – the technology would play an important role in their “risk assessments”. Even ahead of supposedly “run-of-the-mill call-outs that we know can turn deadly.
The community will be able to feel safer knowing police have these state-of-the art resources – and so will the officers who use the technology.
PLEASE: LEARN from what other states have already successfully implemented.
Immediate attention must ALSO be paid to ensure training, particularly around firearms, is effective. Police officers who are part of an active armed offender situation should not have a “fear of missing” as a reason for not firing their weapon even when other’s lives are in immediate danger.
Police officers should not only be accountable when use of force options are used, but also accountable when they don’t and others nearby are in immediate danger.
In addition, ensuring critical information such as shots fired reports must be logged into the police system to ensure appropriate investigations are undertaken and information is available for colleagues. There simply can’t be any MORE excuses! Change MUST be Rachel’s – and Matt Arnold’s – legacy.
We believe that our beautiful child and her friend and colleague Matt, would still be with us had they not been required to attend an interstate inquiry that we still question.
Information provided to New South Wales Police in relation to the Trains should have been forwarded to Queensland officers AS A PRIORITY, given the threats to kill if “they (police) come to our property”.
If proper processes had been followed, would Rachel and Matthew and the other officers have been sent to the property that awful day?
We believe their deaths were preventable. Every moment of every day, we think about our beautiful daughter – and sister – being murdered.
We go to bed each night knowing we will never see our beautiful Rachel again.
We are intensely proud of Rachel and the many things she achieved. Not just as a police officer, but in life. Rachel was a beautiful person inside and out. She lit up every room she walked into.
She loved her family, the outdoors, running up and down Mt Ngungun in the Glass House Mountains National Park, kayaking, snorkelling on Lady Musgrave Island, walking, playing with her blue heeler Archie and having fun with us during a game of Catan or barefoot bowls.
Games of barefoot bowls at the local bowls club was how we celebrated Rachel’s 29th birthday. On her 30th birthday – we placed her ashes in the ground.
Tomorrow. Friday. On her 31st birthday. we will once again remind our beloved Rachel Clare McCrow. that she will forever remain in our hearts. Rachel, we love you so much and will miss you forever. Our lives are shattered, and our hearts will be broken forever.
‘HAD MY HEART AND SOUL’
Francois Malan, a legal representative of the families of the two police officers, read aloud a statement from Rachel’s father Wayne.
Wayne said he had made plans to move in with his daughter because of his failing health but instead she was murdered.
“She was my baby girl and I always called her my baby,” he said.
“I will always remember her megawatt smile, her easy disposition and friendly face.”
He said she’d loved being a police officer and told him she regretted not joining the service earlier.
“She had my heart and soul,” he said.
Mr McCrow said when he got the news of her death, he dropped the phone and screamed and yelled.
“And then in an absolute mess, I turned on the TV to confirm this was real.
“I rang back and was told what had happened.
“This was my worst nightmare.
“At times now I feel totally lost. I was going to spend time and a loving relationship with my daughter.
“There are times when I just lose myself, my sense of reality.
“I can’t talk about this any more. This is a nightmare. It is so hard, this is a nightmare.”
MATTHEW ARNOLD’S FAMILY STATEMENT
His mother Sue’s statement on behalf of the family.
At 4:37pm on December 12, 2022, our world came crashing down.
Just moments after Matt jumped a fence to investigate what he thought was a routine Code 3 call, he was struck down by a bullet fired by a coward hiding in an ambush site.
Matt was brutally executed... he never got up. He had no chance to fight back. In that instant Matt was taken from us.
He never had the chance to come home, nor were we given a chance to say goodbye. Twenty-six years after we finally became parents, this unimaginable tragedy struck us. Matt was a triplet, born after five years of IVF treatments during what we had hoped would be our last attempt.
The joy of welcoming Matt, his sister Hayley, and his brother James into our lives in 1996 was beyond measure.
We went from almost giving up on having children to being blessed with three beautiful babies!
The triplets’ birthday, or any family event will never be the same again.
Matt loved being a police officer, putting on the blue everyday – he had dreamt of it since Year 9 at St Laurence’s College in Brisbane.
He began his dream at the Oxley Police Academy in November 2019, where he is remembered as a kind, cheerful and excellent all-rounder.
Due to Covid-19, Matt and his intake left the police academy early... restrictions at the time meant we didn’t get to see him graduate, and the ceremony wasn’t live-streamed.
No family or friends got to witness Matt’s proudest moment – something that haunts us to this day.
Matt left straight after graduating in March 2020 to Dalby, and then later transferred to the Tara Police Station in April 2021 to pursue his passion.
The people who murdered Matt, claimed all police were demons and devils... How could anyone regard Matt as a demon?
The police officer who helped serve breakfast for hungry children, who would play soccer at lunchtime with kids.
The police officer who would pull over to help someone change a flat tyre, or just pull into shops with a smile to check everything was OK and have a chat.
Matt returned to St Laurence’s year after year as a sports coach and school camp mentor. He spoke to senior cohorts about continuing a life of service to the community.
Matt was respected out West and worked hard in Dalby and Tara to keep up his training... getting rifle certified and always stepping up to advance his police career.
He wanted to be known as the young, professional and reliable copper ... simply the officer who got the job done.
As his relieving officer-in-charge said at the time: “He would walk in anywhere, even with some of our most difficult ‘clients’ and they’d soon be shaking his hand and take an immediate shine to him”
This Inquest revealed how Matt, the most senior officer by only a few months, of those ambushed, had been called in on that fateful day to assist in multiple Code 2 call-outs at 10.30am, three and a half hours before his rostered start time.
This is indicative of the under-resourcing of rural stations – officers are always on call and always expected to respond.
About six hours later, Matt and his friend and colleague Rachel McCrow, walked into a deadly trap. We have seen the evidence and the video footage showing the markers where he took his last breath.
We have visited the site and stood in the spot where Matt was executed. We have looked up that track and seen where the coward took aim and took our son – and brother – in cold blood.
A single bullet ended his life – and the life we wanted to share with him. It was a life that included him being just two days away from doing a relieving stint in the Child Protection Unit in Logan... and coming home. TO US.
This inquest has revealed the critical operational failings that could have prevented this tragedy.
We know who pulled the trigger and killed Matt, but systemic failings and negligence on behalf of many others sent him to Wains Road.
What could have been done to prevent Matt and Rachel’s deaths?
Were policies and procedures adhered to regarding interstate missing person reports?
We know Matt and Rachel were diligent officers... they did all the relevant checks before attending... but you can’t find information when it hasn’t been entered into the system.
Why were communication black spots, which rendered their radios and iPads useless, allowed to persist? This put our son at unnecessary risk.
Better communications must be readily available to ALL police officers. Trying to find the best radio channel should not be a decision that officers need to make, or having to put up with communication that we have heard is “patchy at best”.
We must ensure that any failings that have – or are yet – to be identified, are responded to appropriately at all levels, so this never happens to any other Police Officers or their families.
This Inquest heard how “every police officer deserves to go home safely at the end of each shift” and that “every family of every police officer deserves for that to happen”.
But this didn’t happen for Matt ... or for us.
The time for excuses is over. It’s time to turn words into real action – NOW!
Those who protect us when we need them desperately need protecting.
In January 2022, Queensland police announced the rollout of new Integrated Load Bearing Vests giving officers “added protection against offenders who may be armed with knives or firearms”.
Neither Matt nor Rachel ever received their vests. We will always wonder ... if they had been issued with such equipment. and were wearing it. would it have made a difference?
Better technology and greater investment in new Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems should be a priority... again, we ask: “Would this have saved Matt’s life if used on the 12th December, 2022?
We are deeply grateful for the support of Matt’s extended “blue family” and remain committed to ensuring every officer makes it home safely. We have so many “what if” questions about this tragedy ... we don’t want any other police family to EVER AGAIN have to raise questions about police technology, procedures or communication systems. Unfortunately, we had to wait FIVE HOURS to officially find out Matt had died.
Why did it take Matt’s sister, repeatedly refreshing shared Apple Watch fitness data to know something was wrong?
As the media were reporting three police officers were unaccounted for, family members began flocking to our home.
We packed our bags in case we had to head out west to visit Matt in hospital.
The media followed up those initial reports by saying two officers had been killed ... mistakenly revealing the wrong ages of those deceased.
We were able to breathe a sigh of relief ... to only then receive the dreaded knock on the door about 9:20pm, confirming our worst fears.
Matt and Rachel’s families deserved better that night.
We remain committed to working with senior police to ensure no family has to endure the agonising wait for confirmation of their loved one’s death.
It simply isn’t fair.
We understand this Inquest is part of the process to help fix what’s broken – but we also know our hearts will forever remain broken.
Hearing how time and cost considerations were factored into how many witnesses – and who – would be called to give evidence before this Inquest, is, we believe, insensitive and insulting not only to us, but to the memory of Matt and Rachel.
All we want is the truth – why Matthew and Rachel attended this apparently run-of-the-mill job and never came home.
We will continue advocating for meaningful change.
We are forever proud of Matthew, his generous and kind soul and how he had a unique ability to make others feel safe, and how he cared for all those around him.
If you needed something – he was there.
He wasn’t a police officer to us, just Matty. He loved a beer, a rum, some country music and of course, his blue Ford Ranger – that we will never part with.
Tana, his old girl, the dog he rescued from the RSPCA, misses him just as much as we do. Our pain in losing Matt isn’t a singular event... it never fades and has become a constant presence.
Each day brings a fresh reminder of what’s been lost – a stark realisation that he is gone. Each anniversary of Matt’s death starts a regular chain of misery and missed family events. He won’t get to be a groomsman at his sister’s upcoming wedding. He won’t be here for Father’s Day on Sunday.
We love you Matty, we miss you every day and we will speak your name with pride always. Matt did NOT die in vain.
For and on behalf of Terry, Sue, Hayley and James Arnold.
‘MONSTERS OF WICKEDNESS’
A barrister representing a group of police, including the two officers who survived the Wieambilla massacre, members of the heroic extraction team, the Special Emergency Response Team operatives and other local police from the Western Downs, said no matter what labels were placed on the Trains, they were nothing more than “monsters of wickedness”.
Addressing the Wieambilla inquest on its final day, Patrick McCafferty KC said the group of officers he represented throughout the five-week hearing thought of their lost colleagues every day.
“They wish for the McCrow and Arnold families to know that the loss of Rachel and Matthew remains with them every day as they go about their work and lives,” he said on Thursday.
“They will be forever remembered (as) cherished colleagues and friends.
“The cowardly and callous way Matthew was killed that day deprived him of the opportunity to continue to display the attributes that made him the respected and universally admired police officer that he was.
“While there will never be an adequate solace, the bravery, courageousness that Rachel McCrow displayed in her last moments inspires and motivates those we represent, to protect, to continue to protect (and) serve in Queensland.
“Their killers, their murderers had no regard for Rachel and Matt’s lives, or Alan Dare’s life.
“They had no regard for their families, for any human life.”
Mr McCafferty said the actions of the Trains would be forever etched in the memories of all Queensland police.
“Whatever medical ideological labels experts might attribute to their conduct, the only appropriate epitaph for these murderers was that they were monsters of wickedness,” he said.
“The work of police officers, the work that police officers perform, is often thankless. It is relentless, rarely is it given the respect and recognition it deserves.
“It is a role which protects the community, (one) the public should always remain grateful they perform.”
BRAVERY AWARD CALLS
Queensland Police Union president Shane Prior called on Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski to immediately begin the process of giving bravery awards to the officers involved in rescuing Constable Keely Brough and retrieving the bodies of constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow.
“In the last five weeks, we have heard horrific details. We’ve heard horrific details of Matt and Rachel’s last moments. There isn’t a person in this country who isn’t shocked and upset about what they’ve heard,” he said.
“Matt and Rachel were executed doing their duty for Queensland. Mr Dare, a good Samaritan, unknowingly walked into danger and was also murdered.
“Matt, Rachel, Randall, Keely – they were hunted down and preyed upon by a murderous trio.
“Before coming down here, I had a moment to speak with the families. I spoke to them about how brave they were, how brave they were to give their statement today, but how brave they were to sit through this inquest and hear the details (of) the last five weeks, of their beautiful children’s last moments.
“Today is about honouring Matt and Rachel’s legacy, but tomorrow is about recognising the bravery of the men and women who did their job that day, who went in under fire and retrieved Matt and Rachel’s bodies, the officers who bravely went in and did what they had to do to finish what the murderous trio had started.”
He called on the Commissioner to begin that process “as of tomorrow”.
“These men and women acted with valour, they acted with honour,” Mr Prior said.
I call on the commissioner as of tomorrow to start the process of recognising these brave
“They should be recognised for that and formally given bravery citations.”
GARETH’S ALARMING EMAILS
Ms O’Gorman told the inquest on Thursday that it wasn’t possible to say with certainty what would have happened had Queensland Police been sent Gareth’s alarming emails on December 12.
But she said it must be accepted from witnesses that it was “regrettable” that police didn’t have an opportunity to do a more complete risk assessment and make further inquiries.
“The missed opportunities for further inquiries must be distressing, particularly for the families of constables Arnold and McCrow and Mr Dare, whom the question of ‘what if’ must be an endless source of torment,” she said.
Ms O’Gorman said it seemed highly unlikely that the Special Emergency Response Team or the Public Safety Response Team would have been sent if Queensland had the emails.
She said some officers had told the inquest they would have contacted the Dalby CIB for advice, which might have conducted intelligence checks.
She said the checks were likely to have not returned any information that would have dissuaded police from attending because the Trains didn’t have police or other agency backgrounds.
Ms O’Gorman said her submission was that the coroner should not make any definitive findings about the effect the information not provided by NSW would have had on the decision to send the four officers to the Wains Rd property, or other officers to the address.
“That is, in our submissions it is not possible to say what steps would have been taken that were not,” she said.
“It would be sufficient and reflective of the evidence to note that a different risk assessment and different lines of inquiry are likely to have been undertaken before a decision was made to send those or any other officers to the address.
“Who might have been sent and when and with what support cannot now be known with any certainty.”
Ms O’Gorman said there were eight ‘shots fired’ reports in the vicinity of the Wains Rd property between April and December 2021.
There was no information that pointed strongly, or at all, to the Trains.
She said subsequent investigations had found there was no proof the Trains were involved in any of the incidents.
Ms O’Gorman said there were eight shots fired reports in the vicinity of the Wains Rd property between April and December 2021.
There was no information that pointed strongly, or at all, to the Trains.
She said subsequent investigations had found there was no proof the Trains were involved in any of the incidents.
ALL OFFICERS ACTED APPROPRIATELY
Ms O’Gorman said it had been established through investigations that Nathaniel shot and killed Constable Arnold.
Gareth killed Constable McCrow with his firearm.
However Ms O’Gorman said Nathaniel may have fired one or more of the first three non-fatal rounds that hit Constable McCrow.
She said a rifle used by Gareth, a .308, had never been registered in Australia.
The rifle used by Nathaniel, a Tikka T3 30-06, had been registered by him.
Ms O’Gorman said the officers’ Glocks were “woefully inadequate” to use to defend themselves.
She said even if police had rifles it wouldn’t have prevented the death of Constable Arnold because he was shot without warning.
She said it could not be said with any degree of confidence that having rifles would have prevented Constable McCrow’s death.
Ms O’Gorman said the actions of constables McCrow, Kirk and Brough following the murder of their colleague Constable Arnold were appropriate.
She said Constable McCrow was justified in firing her handgun and her colleagues did the right thing by running from the gunmen.
“Given that they couldn’t see the shooters or their locations and they did not have the ability for long range accurate fire and there was no immediate cover for them … it was appropriate that they tactically reposition, and in Constable Kirk’s case, tactically withdraw,” she said.
She said constables Kirk and Brough were able to use their mobile phones to call for assistance, alerting police who began the rescue process.
“Constables Kirk and Brough had no option but to seek cover and concealment in an attempt to save their lives,” Ms O’Gorman said.
“I have formed the opinion that all officers have acted appropriately.”
Ms O’Gorman said the efforts of the extraction team to get Constable Brough out and retrieve constables McCrow and Arnold were “appropriate” and that officers in the team had been “incredibly brave” in their actions.
She said in her submission, from the evidence given by officers, that it was “reasonable” to leave Mr Dare’s body outside the Trains’ property.
Evidence given by officers at the inquest was that Mr Dare was clearly dead however it was unclear if constables McCrow and Arnold were dead until the extraction team reached them and retrieved them, Ms O’Gorman said.
There were also concerns that the officers’ accoutrements could have been taken by the Trains – which did happen – however the extraction team did not know that at the time.
Ms O’Gorman said SERT officers fired on the Trains 52 minutes after the conspiracy theorists had been shooting at them and after multiple attempts at negotiation, which were ignored.
The actions of SERT on the night were appropriate, she said, including the negotiations and containment of the Trains who were subject to a tight cordon by the specialist officers over fears they could escape the property and kill other members in the community.
She said SERT had been restrained in their use of force given the dangers they faced.
POLICE OFFICERS ON WRONG RADIO CHANNEL
Ms O’Gorman said the officers were on the wrong radio communications channel on the day and had to use their phones.
She said had they been on the right channel they would have likely been able to use their radios effectively.
She said the police service radio master list did not have the Wieambilla channel on it at the time, which has now been rectified.
Ms O’Gorman said it was highly likely that had Constable Kirk stayed hiding where he was on the property that he would have been killed. She said the officer who told him to run, acting Sergeant Justin Drier, had acted appropriately.
Ms O’Gorman said the advice given to Constable Brough by triple-0 call taker Katherine Beilby during a horrific two hours at the property was appropriate.
She said the call taker should be commended and the assessment made by Deputy Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon – that the call-taker saved the life of constable Brough – should be accepted.
“It appears likely that if Constable Brough had stood and tried to run earlier, she would have been shot and killed by the shooters who were then looking for her,” Ms O’Gorman said.
CHANGES MADE
Ms O’Gorman said the QPS now had a masterlist of radio channels. There is also a radio blackspot register that officers can access for blackspots across the state.
Integrated loadbearing vests with better body armour had also been rolled out, she said.
There had also been upgrades to body-worn cameras that could give real time feeds, she said.
Ms O’Gorman said the coroner might consider making a recommendation that the Queensland Government consider an introduction of mandatory mental health assessments of weapons licence applicants.
She also said the coroner could consider recommending the Commissioner prioritise a review of current drone capability and policies and if an expansion of assets into remote locations was feasible.
She also said the coroner could consider recommending the government review and increase its funding for Queensland’s Fixated Threat Assessment Centre to help identify and intervene in referral cases.
The coroner could also consider recommending that Queensland’s police minister raise to the police ministers council issues relating to information and intelligence sharing between states, Ms O’Gorman said.
INQUEST ‘EXTREMELY TRAUMATIC’: SUE ARNOLD SPEAKS OUTSIDE COURT
Outside of court, Sen Const Arnold’s mother Sue Arnold gave a statement at the same time Ms O’Gorman gave her closing address at the inquest.
“Members of our families have been in court every sitting day of the Inquest, watching the harrowing videos and listening to every disgusting detail,” she said.
“The process has been extremely traumatic – and deeply impacted our already fragile emotional wellbeing.
“As difficult as it was, our families continued to support each other, to gather the strength required to go back each day.
“We have also been comforted by the kind words and actions of many other people – including serving police officers. Thank you.
“The past five weeks have brought mixed emotions – many tears and hugs: and anger.
“It was hard for us to hear Matthew and Rachel often referred to as the “two officers”. To us, they will – and should – always be remembered as proud Police Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow.
“And it wasn’t just an ‘event’ on December 12, 2022 – it was a murderous ambush.
“Back on July 29 ... in this spot ... we spoke to the media ... on the first day of the inquest . to convey our hope ... it would be open and transparent.
“While we respect and appreciate the role of the court in gathering information about what unfolded in Wieambilla ... we leave with some critical questions – still unanswered.
That’s disappointing.
“While the inquest exposed the evil acts which brutally ended Matt and Rachel’s hopes and ambitions, it also highlighted serious operational failings that we believe could have prevented this tragedy.
“In his evidence, Detective Senior Sergeant Duncan Gorrie confirmed our long-held belief that Nathaniel Train was not a missing person ... rather someone who’d lost touch with his family. “So, our children were executed for what ... a loss of contact?
“It was also disappointing to hear the similarities to the 2017 murder of Toowoomba senior constable Brett Forte, especially in relation to “shots fired” jobs not being properly recorded or investigated thoroughly.
“Why wasn’t Brett’s murder a catalyst for change?
“It’s vitally important the Coroner now recommends fundamental interventions to ensure deficiencies – or gaps – that were identified during this inquest, are appropriately responded to at all levels ... right across the nation.
“There must be a blueprint when it comes to improving training, tactical options and equipment, risk assessment, and data and intelligence sharing and analysis.
“Any recommendations will of course be too late for Matt and Rachel – and Alan Dare – who lost their lives for action to be taken.
“We desperately miss Matt and Rachel – the pain so excruciating and so unimaginable – is with us every breath, and every step we take.
“And our heartache deepens during what should be happy events. Tomorrow – Friday, August 30 – Rachel would have turned 31. It will be a day marked by impossible grief.
“As for Matt, a triplet – he won’t get to be a groomsman at his sister’s upcoming wedding or celebrate his birthday with his siblings ever again.
“He won’t be here for Father’s Day on Sunday.
“Once again . we will be forced to dry our tears ... and try to move on to the best of our ability.
“Matt and Rachel’s deaths must not be in vain! Thank you.”
PLEAS FOR CHANGE
Alan Dare’s stepson Corey Richards decided against reading a prepared statement and instead pleaded with State Coroner Terry Ryan to deliver change.
“Everything just gets lost, everyone says too much,” he said.
“I don’t see the point in it. I’ve figured out myself what happened. If you want answers, go chase them.
“I’ve got to kind of let that go today and give it to you (Mr Ryan) and hope that it comes back with something to help. I know there has to be change.”
Mr Richards said more should have been done to inform local residents that an active shooter situation was unfolding nearby.
“That sort of information should be for everyone,” he said.
“There’s lots of bad stuff that happened that day.
“I really just want to be left alone. I’m sick of seeing myself in the media, or my dad.
“Just leave me alone, leave my mother alone.
“It’s over to you now.”
‘PARANOID AND DANGEROUS’
Nathaniel Train’s son wanted to report his father missing two months before the Wieambilla massacre, arguing with his “paranoid and dangerous” uncle about his whereabouts.
Emails written by Nathaniel’s son Aidan, released by the Queensland Coroners’ Court, reveal he wanted to report his father missing in early October and believed his uncle Gareth Train knew where he was.
But he warned should police try to enter the rural bush block where Gareth lived with his mother Stacey, it would “only result in death and harm”.
A marathon inquest is examining the murders of two young police officers, Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, killed by Nathaniel, Stacey and Gareth Train on December 12, 2022, when they went to the Wieambilla property to look for Nathaniel, reported missing days earlier.
The Trains also shot their neighbour, Alan Dare, when he approached their front gate to investigate fires they’d lit on their property.
The trio, delusional conspiracy theorists who believed the end of the world was approaching, were killed by specialist police following a lengthy siege.
“Gary, you were unable to provide any answers as to Nathaniel’s whereabouts and instead replied to me with rude comments,” Aidan wrote in an email sent to Gareth on October 2, 2022.
“I still remain concerned for his wellbeing … to the best of my knowledge, you still remain the most likely people to know where he may be, because of your shared beliefs and the fact you have not given me a straight answer either way.
“A missing persons report is warranted, as no one has seen or heard from Nathaniel for two months.
“An application for an AVO is warranted because you are paranoid and dangerous.”
Aidan went on to quote communication he’d previously received from his uncle.
“Feel free to follow up with every individual person involved and their entire family should Stacey and I be unable due to our sudden death or disappearance,” Gareth had written.
“Any trouble you cause for Stacey and me will be on you, Aidan.
“I will find you no matter where you run and hide and I will teach you an eye for an eye, although any trouble you cause will be delivered back twofold and I will take great pleasure in it.”
Aidan continued with: “Contrary to what you may think, a missing persons report is not supposed to cause trouble for you, this is not about you. It is about establishing Nathaniel’s whereabouts.
“If I wanted to harm you by making police reports, there are many different ways I could achieve that.
“I genuinely think that you are so far gone that if the cops came to your house it would only result in death and harm.
“I don’t want to cause trouble, what I want is to know Nathaniel is well.”
Aidan sent another email on December 5 to someone known to his father who shared his concerns.
“In terms of what I think will happen as a best case: Police locate Nathaniel without any hostile interactions with Stacey and Gary. They talk to him and Nathaniel keeps his cool, doesn’t do anything stupid or dangerous,” he wrote.
“Nathaniel can simply request the officer keep his location confidential, meaning you are back to square one …
“I know doing nothing is frustrating – but I honestly think there is nothing that can be done to improve/ remedy this situation.
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