‘My response appropriate’: WA officer at inquest of woman he killed

A WA Police serviceman has told a coronial inquest successful Geraldton it was “instinct” that caused him to sprout a mentally sick Indigenous pistillate successful 2019 aft she was recovered walking unsocial on a thoroughfare with a weapon and brace of scissors.

First Class Constable Brent Wyndham gave grounds astatine time 4 of the inquest probing the decease of 29-year-old JC, a Yamatji woman who had schizophrenia.

JC died successful 2019 aft she was changeable by a WA Police officer.Credit: Nine News

A assemblage cleared him of murdering her successful 2021.

The inquest has heard an interior constabulary reappraisal committee recovered Wyndham failed 4 times to travel WA Police argumentation that day.

Wyndham was recovered to person failed to person assessed proximity; failed to tactically disengage; failed to cordon and contain; and failed to negociate with JC earlier helium fatally changeable her successful the stomach.

On Thursday helium told the tribunal it ne'er crossed his caput to see immoderate different enactment than shooting the woman, whom helium claimed was “coming astatine him” with a ample knife.

“Did it ever transverse your caput that alternatively of firing you could person taken a measurement away?” helium was asked by assisting counsel Rachael Young.

“No, it wouldn’t person done anything,” helium replied.

“Did it ever transverse your caput to tally distant from her?” Young asked.

“No, due to the fact that she could stab maine successful the back,” helium responded.

Young asked the serviceman whether it crossed his caput that she whitethorn not recognize what was happening and that she whitethorn beryllium mentally unwell.

Protestors lined the streets of Geraldton connected Wednesday asking for justness for JC.Credit: Nine News Perth

He replied, “No”.

The tribunal besides heard Wyndham grew up successful Geraldton and has an uncle who is Aboriginal, though does not place arsenic Indigenous himself.

Asked whether taste consciousness grooming assisted him with dealing with JC, helium replied, “No, I dainty everyone the same” and told the tribunal helium had done thing wrong.

“Did you neglect to measure the proximity?” helium was asked.

“No,” helium replied.

“That was 1 of the findings made by the Internal Affairs Unit,” Young said.

“Yes,” helium responded.

But Wyndham went connected to accidental that helium “accepted” the effect of the investigation.

He besides claimed 4 constabulary cars and 8 officers were not capable resources to incorporate JC, which was wherefore helium changeable her.

Constable Brent Wyndham is the serviceman who fatally changeable JC.Credit: ABC News: Keane Bourke

“Was it a split-second determination to propulsion the trigger?” Young asked him.

“Yes,” helium replied.

“You had nary forms of connection with JC but to contented commands?” she asked.

“Yes,” helium replied.

“Do you judge you didn’t accidental thing to effort and recognize wherefore she was acting that way?” she asked.

“Yes,” helium said.

“Do you judge you didn’t inquire wherefore she had a weapon and scissors successful her hands?” Young continued.

“Yes,” helium said.

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“Do you judge you whitethorn person been capable to speech her disconnected the ledge?” Young asked.

“No,” helium replied.

The inquest continues.

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