Wieambilla coronial inquest: Coroner visits property where cops, neighbour, Train family killed

A coronial inquest continues to probe how police and a neighbour were killed during a cold-blooded ambush in regional Queensland.

As the one-year anniversary fast approaches for the horrific cold-blooded murders of two Queensland police officers and a good Samaritan, the coronial inquest continues to probe how this tragedy unfolded.

Members of the Train family – brothers Nathaniel and Gareth Train, and his wife Stacey – murdered constables Rachel McCrow, 29, and Matthew Arnold, 26, when they attended the Western Downs Wains Rd property on December 12 last year.

Constable Matthew Arnold was killed at the Wieambilla property.

Constable Rachel McCrow also died when she went to the property as part of a welfare check.

State Coroner Terry Ryan heard the second pre-hearing ahead of a lengthy coronial inquest at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Ruth O’Gorman KC, counsel assisting the coroner, said the investigation into the deaths was still ongoing, with a coroner’s report expected be finalised after expert statements have been gathered by February 2024.

“Since the first pre-inquest conference, the extensive investigation by QPS ethical command has continued,” Ms O’Gorman said.

“The coronial report is being prepared by investigators and a number of expert reports are expected to be finished by end of year.”

It’s understood the Train family ambushed the two police officers during a welfare check on Nathaniel Train in what has been described as a religiously motivated terror attack.

A third constable, Randall Kirk, was injured during the ambush, while a fourth, Keely Brough, managed to flee into bushland and call for help.

Neighbour Alan Dare, 58, was later murdered by the Trains after going to inspect the property.

The three Train family members were later shot dead during a lengthy siege with heavily armed police later that night.

Neighbour Alan Dare also died, Picture: Supplied

Nathaniel Train had been reported missing to NSW Police.

Ms Gorman said all legal representatives involved in the coronial inquest, including Mr Ryan and the coroner’s court staff, visited the Wieambilla property for a site briefing in October.

The visit was at the request of Mr Ryan, who at the first pre-hearing inquest had asked all parties involved whether there was any “merit” in visiting the property as part of the coronial investigation.

During the first pre-hearing inquest, the court was told the three murders were captured on camera, the footage showing that none of the victims saw their murderers before being gunned down.

Ms O’Gorman said once the coronial report was complete, it would be provided to all parties involved in the inquest in March 2024.

A third pre-hearing inquest was set down for May.

Ms O’Gorman said the coronial inquest was expected to start on July 26 and run throughout August, yet its length will be determined once the report is finalised.

Police had been sent to the Wieambilla property to do a welfare check on Nathaniel Train.

It came after reports the former principal of a country NSW school had illegally crossed the NSW-Queensland border in December 2021.

He had allegedly illegally crossed the border during Covid restrictions, discarding some of his registered firearms along the way.

The court was told that police had attended the Trains’ Wieambilla property in August 2022 looking for Nathaniel in relation to his border crossing.

Stacey and Gareth Train had ambushed police on their Western Downs property in December. Picture: 9 News

During the first pre-hearing in June, the court was told that police had left a calling card at the Wieambilla property gate.

An arrest warrant was later issued for Nathaniel.

He was later reported missing to NSW Police in November 2022, with a request made to the police station in Chinchilla in December, asking officers to make an inquiry at the Trains’ property, where Gareth and his wife Stacey lived.

Nathaniel and Stacey were previously married and shared two children, who were raised by Gareth following his marriage to Stacey.

The mother of two was the head of curriculum at a local school, while Gareth was a former school groundsman.

Earlier this year, police determined the Trains had followed an extremist Christian ideology known as “premillennialism” – the belief Jesus Christ would return to earth after a period of extreme suffering.

The inquest is expected to cover a variety of issues surrounding the deaths, including the police response to Nathaniel’s missing person’s report, his entry into Queensland, the missing person’s broadcast and communication between the NSW and Queensland Police.

The decision to send the four constables to the property, the circumstances of Mr Dare’s shooting, what ammunition and weapons were used by the Trains and whether they had been illegally obtained will also be examined.

The inquest will also look at whether the officers were appropriately trained in firearm use.

Originally published as Wieambilla coronial inquest: Coroner visits property where cops, neighbour, Train family killed