An inquest into the death of a former soldier at the Australian embassy in Iraq has heard staff were ordered to break operating procedures and the law.

November 5, 2019

An elite former soldier who died at the Australian embassy in Iraq might still be alive if correct operating procedures had been followed, an inquest has heard.

Christopher Betts, 34, was employed as a private security contractor in the Baghdad embassy when he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head on May 12, 2016.

Investigators were unable to determine if the death was caused by misadventure or suicide, the Brisbane Coroners Court has heard.

On Tuesday, Mr Betts’ former boss, Darren Lovett, told the inquest that in the weeks leading up to the shooting he ordered security contractors to keep their weapons in their rooms when off duty.

It was a direct contravention of Iraqi law and operating procedures at the embassy.

The court heard that prior to Mr Betts’ death, Iraqi protesters had breached the Green Zone security zone where the embassy was located.

Mr Lovett detailed how live rounds had whistled overhead as the security team lined up to retrieve their weapons from the embassy armoury in a bid to prepare themselves to protect the staff.

He said he made the order due to the delay the team had experienced during that protest, during which the Iraqi army used deadly force to quell it.

The Betts family’s lawyer suggested that if not for that order Mr Betts would still be alive.

“The operators are highly trained and well qualified and I didn’t take into account there would be some misadventure occurring with weapons,” Mr Lovett said in answer.

“They’re paid particularly well and have a particularly good skill set in order to fulfil their contract needs, which is to provide armed security or protect DFAT staff members in Baghdad.”

The delay in security members accessing their weapons could have led to an escalation in the threat to the embassy, he said.

“We were there to ensure the safety and security of DFAT staff.”

Mr Lovett said he believed at the time Mr Betts died there was the potential for more protests, and for the embassy’s security perimeter to be breached.

He denied he had been cautioned against making the directive by a fellow senior staff member who said it “was not a good idea”.

“Operating procedures are a guideline and not every single occurrence or incident or decision matches (it) … which is why (they) are continually reviewed,” he said.

The inquest continues.