The Ultimate Sacrifice

Heartache and disappointment consumed the coronial inquest on its final day. The mothers of Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold deliver emotional statements, sharing the many “what ifs” that still haunt them from that day, and the critical questions that remain unanswered.

In this episode, new details come to light around radio blackspots, body worn cameras, the Arnold family’s agonising five-hour wait for answers, and Rachel McCrow’s final message. And as Internal Investigations hone in on opportunities for improvement, the families are demanding more be done; fighting for Matt and Rachel’s legacy to be one of change, so their sacrifice will protect others.

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Ominous final emails sent by Gareth Train never made it into the hands of Queensland police. 

Why were those four young constables sent to that property, into that ambush, without all the information? Would it have even made a difference?

This episode takes us back to the start, unravelling the missing persons report that set this whole series of tragic events in motion. 

More than a dozen New South Wales and Queensland police officers are called into the witness box; every conversation, phone call and email scrutinised.

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Was the Wieambilla attack an act of terrorism?

An expert in political and religious extremism dissects the evidence to address this question. He breaks down Gareth, Stacey & Nathaniel’s radicalisation into five phases, highlighting their dramatic shift through the pandemic along with the part Donald Day Jr played in the rapid escalation of the Train’s extremist religious beliefs.

The Coronial Inquest hears about prison letters, more Youtube videos and cryptic diary entries, and the actions the Train’s took to “bunker down” believing they were nearing their “time in battle”.

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Gareth, Stacey and Nathanial Train had descended into a world of paranoia and conspiracy, experiencing a shared psychotic disorder; Folie à troix, “madness of three”.

This is the assessment of one of Australia’s leading forensic psychiatrists who, after dissecting their upbringing, communications and relationships, has delivered a deep and comprehensive analysis of the Train’s mental state, concluding they were experiencing “identical persecutory and religious beliefs and delusions”. 

In this episode we hear how Gareth's diagnosis may stem all the way back to birth, how this delusional disorder evolved and how he was able to transfer his delusions to his wife and brother, as he revealed his 'Grand Opus' - ultimately leading them to believe the police were devils, and that they must fight to the death to reach religious salvation. 

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They’re some of the most highly trained police officers in Australia; and now, specialist operatives take us inside “the most dangerous operation” they’ve ever faced - Wieambilla in December 2022. 

The team leader recalls the extraordinary ‘volley of gunfire’ that shook their heavy, armoured vehicles. The SERT commander lays out their mission to ‘isolate, contain and arrest’, and their tactical approach, fearing the Trains would escape. Plus, the court releases new recordings of negotiation attempts, appeals to the Trains to end the situation without violence, that went unheeded... 

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Untold stories of bravery and courage emerge as the first responding officers step into the witness box, delivering confronting and emotional testimony. Before now, we didn’t know their names, or the extent of their selfless actions, to rescue Constable Keeley Brough, retrieve their fallen colleagues and protect the community. 

Losing daylight, with limited information and unreliable radio communications, they mapped out their plan on the bonnet of a car and volunteered to risk their lives, completing their mission just minutes before the Trains opened fire once again. 

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Alan Dare saw his killer seconds before he was shot, his neighbour by his side. Now, after almost two years, the video Alan was filming at the very moment he went to investigate the explosions and gunshots next door has been made public - and we hear from that neighbour for the first time.  

As Alan ventured out to the Train’s property, his wife Kerry was on the phone to 000, with recordings of those calls now also released. They shed light on a crucial question for Kerry; Had police warned them not to leave their home? 

And the real reason Alan's body was not recovered for hours is finally explained by the police who attended.

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Confronting recordings are released by the court from Constable Randall Kirk’s body worn camera. We hear exactly how the ambush played out from the officer’s point of view as he dived for cover, saw his colleague executed, attempted to kill one of the Trains, and ran for his life. We also hear, for the first time, the voices of all four of those young officers, as they walked down the Train’s driveway and into that ambush. 

Constable Randall Kirk -  one of the two surviving officers -  has never spoken publicly before. Stoic in the witness box, he recounts those harrowing minutes on that property, including his attempt to kill one of the Trains.

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The first witness takes the stand; Queensland Detective Inspector Sue Newton, who led the 16-month-long police investigation.  Her evidence, and never-seen-before photos, take us inside the Train's property and house, revealing the weapons, the hiding places and some inexplicably bizarre items. The police investigation lays bare the Train’s depraved actions, stripping the gear from the fallen officers bodies, and haunting images captured on one of those officers body worn cameras finally reveals who fired the fatal shots that killed Constable Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold. 

In this podcast episode, host Melissa Downes is joined by producer Jess Lodge to break down the Detective Inspector’s evidence.

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Chilling evidence was played to the Coroners Court on the opening day of the coronial inquest into the Wieambilla massacre, unveiling the tragic moments that led to the deaths of officers Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, and neighbour Alan Dare. Footage from police body cameras established a clear timeline of the ambush, capturing the unfolding tragedy - and the heroic actions of the four young officers - in real time. There was also emotional testimony from the victim's families, a joint statement made outside the court. The McCrow and Arnold families said there was “no escaping our devastating loss … the all-consuming grief … and the tears”.

In this podcast episode, host Melissa Downes is joined by 9News court reporter Anna Rawlings to discuss the opening day's key details and the nine key questions Queensland state coroner Terry Ryan seeks to answer.

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Who were the Trains? In the days after the siege, detectives scoured the property, uncovering shocking evidence. It was the start of a years-long investigation that would reveal a twisted tale of conspiracy theories and extremism. Once-respected teachers had turned into cop killers. But what detectives uncovered in the United States would add an even more chilling dimension to the case.

Content warning: This episode contains sensitive material related to violent crime and extreme religious beliefs, and may be distressing to some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

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A nightmare scenario was unfolding in Queensland's Western Downs: two officers had been murdered and two others were in extreme danger. In the face of untold peril, 16 brave local officers put their lives on the line to save their colleagues. Heavily armed units then moved in, engaging in an hours-long gunfight with the killers: Nathaniel, Stacey and Gareth Train. It was "one of the most dangerous and complex situations police have witnessed in Australia".

Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence, including gun violence and death. Listener discretion is advised.

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Alan Dare was killed when he went to investigate the gunfire and smoke, but his wife doesn't want him remembered as a hero. Kerry Dare has more questions than most about what happened in Wieambilla that day—questions she hopes the inquest will answer. In this episode, we visit Kerry at her home, neighbouring the crime scene, to relive that day through her eyes.

Episodes 3 & 4 of The Ultimate Sacrifice are out Monday, July 22nd.

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Australia was left in shock when four young police officers were ambushed on the driveway of a property in the Queensland outback town of Wieambilla: two were executed in cold blood, two were forced to fight for their lives, and an innocent neighbour was murdered. Before the coronial inquest begins, we take you back to the 12th of December, 2022. How did a routine missing persons callout end in the deaths of Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare? And how did two officers survive?

Episodes 3 & 4 of The Ultimate Sacrifice are out Monday, July 22nd.

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Four young officers ambushed; two escaped, two executed in cold blood, an innocent neighbour murdered. How did a routine callout turn into Queensland’s deadliest police shooting?

Episodes 1 & 2 drop on Monday, July 15th.

Episodes 3 & 4 drop on Monday, July 22nd.

Then, from Monday July 29th, this podcast follows the coronial inquest in-depth, releasing regular episodes as new details emerge.

The Ultimate Sacrifice is the new podcast from the acclaimed team of 9News presenter Melissa Downes and producer Jessica Lodge, following their multiple award-winning podcast Hannah's Story, and is produced in partnership with 9News and 9Podcasts.

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