Overview
- State Coroner Terry Ryan found the 2022 Wieambilla murders did not meet the legal definition of a terrorist act, concluding the Train family acted under shared persecutory delusions.
- Nathaniel Train was identified as the killer of Constable Matthew Arnold and Gareth Train as the killer of Constable Rachel McCrow, with neighbour Alan Dare also shot dead after approaching the property.
- Ryan found NSW Police failed to provide Queensland officers with all relevant information, including threatening emails by Gareth Train, which limited the opportunity for a complete risk assessment.
- The report recommends considering mandatory mental health assessments for weapons licence applicants and reviewing expanded drone use to gather information on remote properties, noting the officers’ handguns were no match for the Trains’ rifles.
- The coroner affirmed SERT’s later use of lethal force as appropriate, as victims’ families expressed grief and initial disappointment and said they await concrete responses to the recommendations.