Reece Weber receives bravery award after actions during backpacker stabbings

A young police officer called to the bloody scene of the Home Hill backpacker stabbings in 2016 has been awarded for the bravery he showed that night in doing what needed to be done. Read the full story here:

British backpackers Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, and Tom Jackson, 30, were killed at Home Hill Backpackers.

A Maryborough police officer who had to arrest the “unsound” killer of two young backpackers at a hostel in Home Hill in 2016 has been awarded for his brave actions that night.

Senior Constable Reece Weber was awarded a Queensland Police Bravery Medal on Thursday at a ceremony at the Hervey Bay Boat Club.

On August 23, 2016, Snr Const Weber and Snr Const Whitney De Bree were called to reports of multiple stabbings at a backpackers’ hostel just south of Ayr.

A young woman died at the scene after being stabbed by French national Smail Ayad, and the British man who tried to help her died days later from his wounds.

Others had also been injured.

While Snr Const De Bree gave first aid to those who were hurt, Snr Const Weber maintained control of the complex and dangerous environment and negotiated Ayad’s arrest.

Ayad never ended up standing trial for the killings, after being found to be of unsound mind when he killed Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, and Tom Jackson, 30.

Ayad said he had no memory of pulling Ms Ayliffe-Chung from her hostel bed before killing her and then fatally stabbing Mr Jackson as he tried to save Mia.

He initially denied carrying out the attack, but eventually admitted in court he no longer disputed killing the two backpackers.

British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21.

During the incident, he had also stabbed hostel manager Grant Schultz in the leg as he tried to protect Mia, and he killed Atari, the hostel owner’s dog.

The Brisbane Mental Health court heard Ayad thought he was the target of an international conspiracy to kill him, and that a farmer had plans to burn him in a pizza oven, after his illness intensified quickly in the days before the stabbing.

The coroner said in her report Ayad had become “infatuated’ with Ms Ayliffe-Chung, who had been staying at the hostel for just a week before her death.

“Ayad told me that he thought Mia was wonderful and that she has a good body and that when he leaves he will take Mia with him,” an Italian national staying at the hostel recalled for the coroner.

“Ayad said to me that Mia is his wife. I did not think this made sense because he is not Mia’s husband or boyfriend.”

Ms Ayliffe-Chung had requested to change rooms because of unwanted attentions from a man, but a witness said her request had been denied.

British backpacker Tom Jackson was stabbed to death when he tried to help Mia Ayliffe-Chung.

Coroner Nerida Wilson could not confirm suggestions Ms Ayliffe-Chung was denied her request when she asked to move rooms, but said women should be paired with other women.

“Such high-density sharing arrangements are already fraught, even without the added layer of vulnerability a woman may experience being accommodated with males not known to her,” Ms Wilson said.

Soon after 11pm that night, the horror was caught by CCTV, with Ayad seen with his hand around Ms Ayliffe-Chung and a knife in his hand.

Bravery award recipient Senior Constable Reece Weber (right).

The night manager followed them slowly before Ayad repeatedly stabbed Ms Ayliffe-Chung.

When the night manager tried to stop him, he was stabbed in the leg.

Ms Ayliffe-Chung got up and ran to a nearby bathroom, locking herself in a cubicle.

Ayad then jumped off the balcony, according to the coroner’s report, and Mr Jackson and another man helped him, as they did now know what had just happened upstairs.

“The scene at the hostel was one of chaos, confusion and fear,” the coroner's report said.

“During this time Ayad went back up onto the balcony and paced along it for a period of time while continuing to hold on to the knife. He was shouting and gesturing,” the report said.

Mr Jackson opened the bathroom door to look outside and then said something to Ayad.

Ayad then pushed open the bathroom door and attacked Mr Jackson with the knife.

The other man ran from the bathroom to get help.

Smail Ayad has never stood trial for the killings after he was found to have been of unsound mind when he killed British backpackers Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, and Tom Jackson, 30, at Home Hill Backpackers.

Ms Ayliffe-Chung died at the scene about 30 minutes after being stabbed, while Mr Jackson was rushed to hospital where he died from his wounds six days later.

Ayad was an inpatient at a treatment centre before he was deported to France in 2021, five years after the stabbings, where he received treatment at a French facility.

“All persons present during these events were exposed to what can only be described as a horrifying and frenzied attack on two people,” Ms Wilson said.

“Mia and Thomas were in the prime of their life and enjoying a carefree experience of a lifetime in a country that is by all standards otherwise considered safe. Their life, and their death, touched many.”

Rosie Ayliffe spoke out about the deportation on what would have been her daughter’s 26th birthday.

“I wish Ayad and his family peace, and am glad to hear a grieving mother will now be able to visit her son,” she said in a statement.

“Mia always had wisdom beyond her years and was the arch negotiator and arbitrator even as a toddler.

“She was also fun, the funniest, quickest-witted person I’ve ever met. She was a delightful gift of a daughter and I consider myself to have been blessed to have her in my life.”

Originally published as Reece Weber receives bravery award after actions during backpacker stabbings