Family of NSW hunter speak of 'argument' before officers shot
The family of a NSW hunter cannot fathom what motivated him to shoot two police officers responding to a domestic violence situation following a “family argument”.
Eric Newman, 74, is believed to have shot the officers before he was found dead inside a house in the northern town of Glen Innes at 9.50pm on Friday.
“We were together a couple of hours prior. Everything was good, we were laughing,” Newman’s sister-in-law, Kim Blythe, told Seven News on Sunday.
“It was just a family argument and we don’t know what’s caused it … we don’t know what the reasoning is.”
Ms Blythe said the 74-year-old had been a “good, honest, friendly man” who was helpful and loved by everyone.
Newman was a keen big-game hunter who reportedly had taxidermy in his house including giraffes and bears.
Officers recovering in hospital
Senior constable Helen McMurtie was shot in the throat and her sergeant colleague, Mark Johnston, on the side of his face after speaking to Mr Newman, while a third uninjured female officer also attended the scene on Church St.
The probationary constable and sergeant pulled the injured senior constable to their vehicle in what Western Region Commander Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie on Saturday described as “great courage”.
He said NSW Police were mindful they could have “easily” lost two of their own.
Neighbours helped the wounded police until paramedics arrived.
“I grabbed (the female officer’s) neck where she was shot and then, yeah, just waiting there with them until the police and the ambulance come,” Bryce Elliott told reporters.
It’s believed a further shot was heard before additional police arrived and found the man dead.
A 59-year-old woman was also found nearby with minor injuries.
Both injured officers were flown to Gold Coast Hospital, where they have been visited by their senior colleagues.
Senior Constable McMurtie is in a serious but stable condition and may require further surgery, while the Sergeant Johnson has undergone surgery and remains in a stable condition, NSW Police said in a statement on Sunday afternoon.
“My God, I pray for them. I pray for them and their families,” the gunman’s wife, Lesley Blythe Newman, told Seven News.
“I thank everyone for being supportive and just being there for us.”
A critical incident investigation has been launched and findings will be presented to the coroner.
NSW Police Legacy has established an appeal to directly help the two officers and their families in their rehabilitation.
