New South Wales police received chilling threats from one of the men who shot dead two Queensland officers at least five hours before the murder, a coroner has said.
State Coroner Terry Ryan, who is investigating the fatal shooting that killed six people on a Queensland estate on December 12, 2022, heard evidence from New South Wales Police officers for the first time on Monday.
Mr Ryan heard that Gareth Train, 47, sent an email to his brother Nathaniel, 46, claiming NSW Police “wanted to see him dead” and that he had told others he would “greet them as they deserved” if officers turned up on his doorstep.
NSW Police received the emails on the day they were sent, December 11, 2022, and they were read and reviewed by an officer before 11am the following day.
On December 12 at approximately 5.30pm (New South Wales time), Queensland police officers Matthew Arnold (26) and Rachel McCrow (29) were shot dead by the brothers in Wieambilla, west of Brisbane, while they were trying to find Nathaniel Train.
Sergeant Simon Thorpe of the New South Wales Police gave evidence in the Brisbane District Court on Monday. On November 23, 2022, he spoke to a close associate of Nathaniel Train at a regional police station in New South Wales about the procedure for reporting him missing.
Sgt Thorpe said he had entered details of Gareth Train’s emails into the police information system on the morning of December 12, but was not aware they contained references to a confrontation with police in the coming days.
“They will try to see you dead through Saturnalia,” Gareth Train told his brother in the email, referring to the ancient Roman festival held on December 17 that is associated with both the celebration and symbols of human sacrifice.
NSW police witnessed chilling threats from Gareth Train (pictured with his wife Stacey) at least five hours before they, along with Gareth’s brother Nathaniel, shot dead two Queensland officers
Gareth Train, 47, emailed his brother Nathaniel, 46, (pictured) claiming NSW police ‘wanted to see you dead’
The close associate forwarded to Sgt Thorpe multiple emails that Gareth Train had sent between 10 and 11 December 2022 after learning of a missing person.
The emails contained numerous insults against the police, accusing them of being corrupt since 1788. They also made obscene insults against people Gareth Train believed were responsible for the attempt to track down his brother.
Sgt Thorpe said he had consulted police files and that the emails, which referred to Australia’s spy agency ASIO, suggested Gareth Train had “delusional symptoms”.
Mr Ryan was told that in late November 2022, Sgt Thorpe had stated in the file that Nathaniel Train became ‘paranoid and godly’ and spoke openly about his religious beliefs, and that his brother Gareth had a ‘disgust for the police and authorities’.
Mr Ryan heard that Sgt Thorpe had received a letter suggesting that Nathaniel Train would go to the remote Wieambilla property, owned by his brother and his brother’s 45-year-old wife, Stacey, in December 2022.
Ruth O’Gorman’s lawyer asked Sgt Thorpe if his close associate had informed him of their relationship with Gareth and Stacey Train.
‘(The officer) … said the relationship was strained … Gareth had a dislike for the police and authorities. He was paranoid,’ Sgt Thorpe said of their conversation on November 23, 2022.
The closest associate cannot be identified due to a court order.
Queensland officers Matthew Arnold, 26, (left) and Rachel McCrow, 29, (right), were shot dead by the brothers in Wieambilla, west of Brisbane, while trying to locate Nathaniel.
Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train also murdered their neighbour Alan Dare, 58, shortly afterwards. All three Trains were shot dead hours later by specialist officers after they refused to surrender and opened fire on an armoured police vehicle
Mr Ryan heard that Sgt Thorpe had discovered that Nathaniel Train had an outstanding warrant for his arrest in Queensland for illegally crossing the border during the COVID-19 lockdowns and for firearms offences.
Sgt. Thorpe said he did not tell his close associate about the criminal charges because he was obliged to protect Train’s privacy.
Mr Ryan heard that Sgt Thorpe had tried to reach Gareth Train by telephone and he had left a message.
“My biggest concern was that … he was likely to be met with hostility from Queensland Police and that he would not co-operate,” Sgt Thorpe said.
Gareth Train did not respond to Sgt Thorpe’s phone call, but stated in emails that he had heard the message.
Sgt Thorpe was not involved in the decision to send four Queensland officers to the Wieambilla site.
Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train also murdered their neighbour Alan Dare, 58, shortly afterwards.
All three trains were shot dead by specialist officers several hours later after they refused to surrender and opened fire on a police armoured vehicle.