NSW Police saw deadly threats from one of the men who went on to fatally shoot two Queensland officers at least five hours before the killings, a coroner has heard.
State Coroner Terry Ryan, who is investigating the fatal shooting of six people at a rural Queensland property on December 12, 2022, on Monday heard evidence for the first time from NSW Police officers.
Mr Ryan heard Gareth Train, 47, emailed his brother Nathaniel, 46, claiming NSW Police wanted to “see you dead” and told others he would “greet them as they deserve” if officers arrived at his doorstep.
NSW Police was forwarded the emails the day they were sent, on December 11, 2022 and were read and reviewed by an officer before 11am the next day.
About 5.30pm NSW time on December 12, Queensland Constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, were shot dead by the brothers at Wieambilla, west of Brisbane, while attempting to locate Nathaniel Train.
NSW Police Sergeant Simon Thorpe testified in Brisbane Coroners Court on Monday he spoke to a close associate of Nathaniel Train at a regional NSW police station on November 23, 2022, about the procedure for reporting him missing.
Sgt Thorpe said he entered details about Gareth Train’s emails into the police’s information system on the morning of December 12 but did not realise they contained references to a confrontation with police in coming days.
“They will attempt to see you dead by Saturnalia,” Gareth Train told his brother in the email, referring to the ancient Roman festival held on December 17, which is linked to both celebration and symbols of human sacrifices.
The close associate forwarded to Sgt Thorpe multiple emails sent by Gareth Train between December 10 and 11 2022, after he learned of the missing persons report.
The emails contained numerous insults directed toward police, accusing them of being corrupt since 1788, and obscene slurs towards people Gareth Train thought responsible for the attempt to locate his brother.
Sgt Thorpe said he entered into the police files that the emails, which included references to the Australian spy agency ASIO, suggested Gareth Train had “symptoms of delusional paranoia”.
Mr Ryan was told Sgt Thorpe previously entered in case files in late November 2022 that Nathaniel Train was “becoming paranoid and Godlike” in terms of being outspoken about his religious beliefs and his brother Gareth had a “dislike of police and authority figures”.
Mr Ryan heard Sgt Thorpe was shown a letter suggesting Nathaniel Train might in December 2022 attend the remote Wieambilla property owned by his brother and his sibling’s 45-year-old wife Stacey.
Counsel assisting Ruth O’Gorman asked Sgt Thorpe if the close associate had informed him of their relationship with Gareth and Stacey Train.
“(The associate) ... said the relationship was strained ... Gareth had a dislike of police and authority figures. He was paranoid,” Sgt Thorpe said of their November 23, 2022 conversation.
The close associate cannot be identified due to a court order.
Mr Ryan heard Sgt Thorpe discovered Nathaniel Train had an outstanding arrest warrant in Queensland for illegally crossing the border during COVID-19 lockdowns and for firearms offences.
Sgt Thorpe said he did not tell the close associate about the criminal charges as he was required to protect Train’s privacy.
Mr Ryan heard Sgt Thorpe had attempted to contact Gareth Train by phone and left a message.
“My main concern was that ... Queensland police would likely be met with hostility and he would be unco-operative,” Sgt Thorpe said.
Gareth Train did not return Sgt Thorpe’s phone message but stated in emails he had heard it.
Sgt Thorpe was not involved in the decision to send four Queensland constables to the Wieambilla property.
Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train went on to also kill their neighbour Alan Dare, 58, soon afterwards.
All three Trains were shot dead hours later by specialist officers after they refused to surrender and opened fire on a police armoured vehicle.
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