The Queensland Police Service (QPS) have said a man charged with five stabbing deaths in the state’s north-east was not mentally fit to hold the role of chief police officer.
Key points:The man was arrested at his home in the town of Dickson after a shooting on June 13The man is charged with murder and five counts of murder with a weapon over a three-year periodPolice said they had “found no evidence” of the man being “disturbed” during the time of the incident and no evidence of mental illness in the caseThe man, aged in his 40s, was arrested by police after a series of shootings in the region of Denton, which is near Townsville.
“The man has been charged with the murder of three people in Denton on June 27, 2018, including a man who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and three of the five murders were carried out by an unknown male,” the QPS said in a statement.
“He has been assessed as not being mentally fit, with no evidence to suggest the man was disturbed during the incident.”
“The person has been advised that he will not be afforded the power or authority of a chief police officers in Queensland.”‘
We’re all in this together’The statement added: “He will not receive any compensation or benefit for the deaths he has caused.”
Mr Gabbay has been the QS chief constable since 2015.
He was arrested over the weekend in Dickson, just south of Townsville, after police were called to reports of a shooting at the home of a resident.
The man who was arrested is being questioned on suspicion of murder and the other three murders are not considered murder.
“This individual has been identified as being in possession of firearms and ammunition, and has been referred to the Queensland Police Force’s Major Incident Response Team for further investigation,” the statement said.
The QPS statement said the man had “not been in contact with any of the families involved”.
“We’re in thistogether.
The family have expressed deep sadness at the loss of their loved one.”
A woman who lives at the house where the man lived told the ABC she had heard gunshots and the sound of a shotgun.
“I just think it’s really crazy.
I’ve lived here my whole life and I haven’t heard anything,” she said.”
It’s really scary.”
Queensland police have said they were aware of the charges, but were yet to make any arrests.
“Queenslanders have a right to know if their neighbour has been a threat to their safety,” QPS commissioner Andrew Scipione said.
He said the organisation was working closely with the Queensland Government and the community to support the family and provide support.
“We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour in any form,” he said.ABC/wires
