Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Ex-soldier toyed with gun, Qld inquest hears
An inquest in Brisbane into the death of a former soldier at the Australian embassy in Iraq has heard about his last moments before dying from a gunshot wound.
November 5, 2019
The last moments of an elite former soldier who died at the Australian embassy in Iraq has been described at an inquest into his death.
Christopher Betts, 34, was employed as a private security guard in the Baghdad embassy when he died from a gunshot wound to his head on May 12, 2016.
On Monday, the Brisbane Coroners Court heard Mr Betts picked up and loaded a colleague’s pistol while off duty.
Sun McKay, who was dozing in the same room at the time, later told Australian police he heard the magazine click into place in his gun, then Mr Betts sat on a couch and put the weapon to his head.
“It’s time to play clear or not clear,” he told Mr McKay, the inquest before coroner Terry Ryan heard on Monday.
Australian Federal Police Detective Sergeant William Freeman arrived at the Baghdad compound four days later to investigate.
He said Mr Betts’ parents – who were at the inquest on Monday – had feared Mr McKay had been involved since there was no suicide note.
But he told the inquest he believed the evidence pointed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Mr Ryan will also explore whether Mr Betts’ employer, Unity Resources Group, had appropriate safety and weapons-handling procedures in place in Baghdad, and whether the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had adequate oversight of the company.
The inquest continues on Tuesday.