Police officers set to give evidence in Geraldton police shooting murder trial fail to have names suppressed

Police officers set to give evidence in the murder trial against a fellow officer charged over the shooting death of a Yamatji woman in Geraldton have failed in their bid to have their identities suppressed despite pleas over a risk to their safety. The seven officers were all on duty the night their colleague - a first class constable – fired the shot that claimed the life of the woman known as JC and have expressed fears publication of their names and faces will not only place their safety at risk but that of their families. Details of the officers’ concerns were revealed during a directions hearing in WA’s Supreme Court today. Director of Public Prosecutions Amanda Forrester SC made the application to suppress their identities arguing the accused’s identity was suppressed for similar reasons and added all but one still lived in the Geraldton area. She said many had young families and were concerned they could become targeted. And while she admitted the State did not have any evidence or “intelligence” to suggest there were any threats, she said the officers’ held a genuine fear and that “in itself presents a concern”. She also told the court the officers’ were concerned publicity surrounding the trial could affect their careers. During the hearing, Ms Forrester also applied to have the addresses of several other witnesses to be suppressed as well as for the trial to be live streamed into Geraldton. Justice Robert Mitchell granted the request to have the trial streamed into an appropriate venue, most likely Geraldton court house, so those who could not travel to Perth could view the hearing. He also granted the request to suppress the addresses of some witnesses but dismissed the application to suppress the identities of the officers who will give evidence. He told the court there was no objective evidence to suggest any threats had been made adding police officers living in regional towns often have to give evidence in court and this trial was no different. During hearing, the officer’s lawyer, Linda Black, also made an application for the jury to be taken to Geraldton to view where the alleged incident took place however Justice Mitchell dismissed the request. The first class constable became the first officer in almost a century to be charged with murder after he fatally shot JC, a mother-of-one, who was armed with a knife, outside her Rangeway home on September 17, 2019. Her death sparked a wave of unrest in the Mid-West town and wide-spread condemnation from the Aboriginal community who say it could have been avoided. Before the incident, relatives had called triple-0 concerned for the 29-year-old’s welfare. JC had complex mental health issues and had received care at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital for a suicide attempt just days before her death. She had been released from jail about three weeks earlier after being arrested for stealing a mobile phone from a house and then setting fire to her cell. The murder trial is expected to go ahead in October.