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| Numan Haider inquest: two witnesses excused from giving evidence Numan Haider inquest: two witnesses excused from giving evidence | |
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| Two witnesses facing serious criminal trials have been excused from giving evidence to the coronial inquest into the death of terrorism suspect Numan Haider, who was shot and killed after he stabbed two police officers outside of the Endeavour Hills police station in Victoria in September 2014. | Two witnesses facing serious criminal trials have been excused from giving evidence to the coronial inquest into the death of terrorism suspect Numan Haider, who was shot and killed after he stabbed two police officers outside of the Endeavour Hills police station in Victoria in September 2014. |
| Coroner John Olle said there were compelling reasons to excuse the witnesses, including that giving evidence could seriously jeopardise their own court cases. While Olle could offer the witnesses a certificate that would mean any evidence they gave in the inquest into Haider’s death could not be used against them, both witnesses were unwilling to take this option. | Coroner John Olle said there were compelling reasons to excuse the witnesses, including that giving evidence could seriously jeopardise their own court cases. While Olle could offer the witnesses a certificate that would mean any evidence they gave in the inquest into Haider’s death could not be used against them, both witnesses were unwilling to take this option. |
| While Olle has the power to compel the witnesses to give evidence, he said a balance had to be struck between providing justice to Haider’s family who were seeking answers to the events leading up to his death, and the need to provide justice to the men facing trial and to avoid their self-incrimination. | While Olle has the power to compel the witnesses to give evidence, he said a balance had to be struck between providing justice to Haider’s family who were seeking answers to the events leading up to his death, and the need to provide justice to the men facing trial and to avoid their self-incrimination. |
| Olle told the court “that balance falls very firmly” on the side of the witnesses, who he said were facing “grave” and serious criminal charges. He excused them from giving evidence. | Olle told the court “that balance falls very firmly” on the side of the witnesses, who he said were facing “grave” and serious criminal charges. He excused them from giving evidence. |
| Olle made a suppression order preventing the media from naming the two men and from revealing their charges. He also suppressed the identity of police officers from the joint counter-terrorism unit, who are due to give evidence next week, from being revealed. | Olle made a suppression order preventing the media from naming the two men and from revealing their charges. He also suppressed the identity of police officers from the joint counter-terrorism unit, who are due to give evidence next week, from being revealed. |
| The inquest, which will last 12 days and which began on Monday, will examine how Haider’s death might have been avoided, and if there were warning signs in the weeks leading up to it that could have been detected by his family, the police, Asio officers, and others who had contact with him. | The inquest, which will last 12 days and which began on Monday, will examine how Haider’s death might have been avoided, and if there were warning signs in the weeks leading up to it that could have been detected by his family, the police, Asio officers, and others who had contact with him. |
| On Monday his father gave evidence, saying in a statement the family were distressed that two police officers had been harmed by their son’s actions, and they hoped the inquest into his death would help foster greater cooperation between Muslim organisations, police and the public. | On Monday his father gave evidence, saying in a statement the family were distressed that two police officers had been harmed by their son’s actions, and they hoped the inquest into his death would help foster greater cooperation between Muslim organisations, police and the public. |
| “They do not want to lay blame,” counsel assisting, Rachel Ellyard, told the coroner. | “They do not want to lay blame,” counsel assisting, Rachel Ellyard, told the coroner. |
| The 18-year-old was shot in the head by a police officer on 23 September 2014, after he stabbed the officer and their colleague outside a police station. Haider died instantly, the court was told. | The 18-year-old was shot in the head by a police officer on 23 September 2014, after he stabbed the officer and their colleague outside a police station. Haider died instantly, the court was told. |
| The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |