The only witness to the death of a former soldier at the Australian embassy in Iraq says booze and sloppy weapons handling weren’t an issue in the shooting.

November 8, 2019

The only witness to a bodyguard’s death at the Australian embassy in Iraq has countered the claims of six colleagues and denied sloppy weapons handling and booze were a factor in the shooting.

Sun McKay has told an inquest his pistol was not loaded on the night Christopher Betts, 34, died in McKay’s room from a gunshot wound to the head on May 12, 2016.

The medic and bodyguard to two Australian ambassadors stood by what he’d told investigators after the shooting – saying Mr Betts loaded the Glock 17 pistol, held it to his head and said “it’s time to play clear or not clear” before pulling the trigger.

“I was thoroughly confused about what was going on, what his intentions were … as soon as his finger went on the trigger, I thought there’s something really wrong here,” he told the Brisbane Coroners Court.

“I am certain if he was just f****** he would have just stopped and looked at me … to see what reaction he got (but) I am sorry he did it incredibly quick.”

Australian Federal Police found Mr Betts’ death was self-inflicted but could not determine if the cause was suicide or misadventure.

Mr McKay denied the claims of six other embassy security contractors who told the court he had previously pointed guns at colleagues while drinking and regularly left his weapons loaded in his room, which was forbidden.

He said guns were an extension of his body and he had superior weapons skills to most of his colleagues, many of who he described as “spuds” or “clock punchers”.

Mr McKay’s lawyer Jamie Whitehead had applied to Coroner Terry Ryan for his client to give evidence via video link following “adverse” media attention during the inquest, but this was rejected.

The Betts’ family’s lawyer Patrick McCafferty QC had opposed the application saying Mr McKay was not a vulnerable witness and the reporting had been fair and accurate.

“Mr McKay is the only person alive that can shed any light, assuming it’s true evidence, on what happened at 2.30am on 12 May,” he said.

“It’s necessary and vital for Your Honour to see him give evidence to assess his demeanour.”

Mr McKay became teary in the witness box and was unable to answer many questions due to memory loss and sleep deprivation.

The court heard that in the days after the shooting and while still at the embassy, Mr McKay “self-medicated” with marijuana and alcohol mixed with cough mixture.  

The inquest continues.