’Traumatised’ police officer asks not to appear at Wieambilla shooting inquest

One of four police officers ambushed in a regional Queensland shootout that left two of them dead, and the former commissioner, both want to be excused from an inquest.

Constable Matthew Arnold and Constable Rachel McCrow, whose portraits are held above, were killed in the shooting at Wieambilla, in western Queensland, in December 2022. Picture: Steve Pohlner

One of the four police officers ambushed in a regional Queensland shootout that left two of them dead, and former state police commissioner Katarina Carroll, have both requested to be excused from giving evidence to a coronial inquest slated to begin next month.

Keely Brough was accompanied by fellow constables Rachel McCrow, Matthew Arnold and Randall Kirk as they approached the home of Gareth and Stacey Train at Wieambilla, in Queensland’s Western Downs, in December 2022 in search of missing school principal Nathaniel Train.

The four were shot at by the Trains, in what police have deemed a religiously motivated attack. Constable Arnold was killed immediately, while wounded Constable McCrow died from an execution-style gunshot. Neighbour Alan Dare was also killed.

Constable Brough, an officer with only eight weeks experience, fled into the surrounding bush scrub, with the Trains lighting fires in an attempt to smoke her out. She was eventually extracted from the site by specialist officers.

Police later killed the three perpetrators.

Constable Keely Brough escaped a shooting at a Wieambilla property.

Appearing before the fourth pre-inquest hearing in Brisbane on Friday, the barrister representing several Queensland sworn officers, including Constable Brough, Patrick McCafferty KC, requested the young woman not give evidence for medical reasons, telling state coroner Terry Ryan she was traumatised by the event.

“The medical evidence of Constable Brough is compelling,” Mr McCafferty said.

The request was supported by counsel assisting the state coroner, Ruth O’Gorman KC.

But the families of McCrow and Arnold have appealed to the coroner to make Constable Brough take the stand.

“Whilst the families appreciate that the events which took place were traumatic ... Constable Keely Brough was, in fact, one of the few people who were present at the time of the events,” the families’ joint legal representative, Francois Malan, told the court.

“On that basis, they believe she should be made available for cross-examination to better understand what took place prior and during those events.”

Counsel assisting the coroner Ruth O'Gorman, left, leaving Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Mr McCafferty responded, saying it was “unanswerable to seek to compel her … to give evidence” and any suggestion otherwise was in “complete disregard to her wellbeing”.

A recording of a triple-000 call made by Constable Brough while hiding in the scrub has been admitted to evidence.

Ms Carroll has also been left off of the preliminary witness list.

Ms O’Gorman said the presence of Ms Carroll was not required at the inquest as Deputy Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon could provide any evidence regarding institutional matters.

Neighbour Alan Dare also died in the shooting at Wieambilla. Picture: supplied

Coroner Ryan is due to decide on the requests next week. The inquest is scheduled to begin on July 29 and last four weeks.