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The shell-shocked father of two men responsible for the killing of two police officers and an innocent neighbour in a remote part of Queensland, Australia has broken down in tears as he revealed new details about how the men turned down a “dark track”.
Ron Train told A Current Affair on Wednesday he would not describe his sons as “monsters” and that he had never stopped loving them, despite years of estrangement.
“I’d describe them as two boys who lost their way in life,” he told the programme.
He said the pair were raised with “Christian beliefs” but had turned away from their upbringing.
“They went down this track, this dark track, which we have no understanding of.”
Ron believes Nathaniel’s marriage to Stacey Train, the third shooter in the ambush, was “taken over” by Gareth. The younger sibling went on to marry her.
“I just think in the end that he took over that relationship that Nathaniel and Stacey had,” he said.
Nathaniel and Stacey had two children together, who are also estranged from their extended family.
Ron said he had a “complete meltdown” after hearing what his sons had done.
Nathaniel Train was reportedly in a love triangle with his sister-in-law and brother.
“I cried out to God, as because, you know, I’m a believer. I just could not understand.”
Ron said he understood how police and the loved ones of those killed by his sons felt, but claimed the pair had been “demonised” in the media.
He told the programme he did not feel responsible for his sons’ actions, but did not feel compelled to defend them.
“Those decisions were made as adults. I can’t accept responsibility for something in an adult mind,” he said.
“There’s no excuse for that. No excuses for their behaviour, and I don’t excuse my boys of their actions at all.
“They’ll stand before God in this world. They can’t be brought to justice in the secular world, but they will before God.”
The attack began after four officers attended the property as a part of an investigation sparked by a missing person report of Nathaniel Train.
Crews from Tara and Chinchilla Police Stations arrived at the remote property at about 4.40pm. A source close to the investigation told NCA NewsWire what unfolded next was “very, very rapid”.
Constable Rachel McCrow, 29, and Constable Matthew Arnold, 26, arrived first, honking their horn to alert the residents of their presence. Constable Randall Kirk and Constable Keely Brough followed.
Constable Rachel McCrow, 29, and Constable Matthew Arnold, 26, were shot and killed at a Queensland property. Photo / Facebook
After there was no movement from the house, the four officers left their cars and jumped over a locked fence while approaching the property.
Seconds later, the officers were under heavy fire from a group of camouflaged assailants, now known to be brothers Nathaniel and Gareth Train, and the latter’s wife, Stacey.
McCrow and Arnold were instantly hit, and fell to the ground, while Kirk and Brough were forced to run for their lives.
NCA NewsWire understands Kirk was also shot in the leg in the same hail of gunfire, but managed to make it back to his police car as he hadn’t jumped the fence.
The offenders gave chase and fired into his car as he drove away, calling for help, causing him to become showered in shards of glass.
As the assailants tried to hunt down Kirk, his colleague Brough had managed to escape on foot into dense scrubland.
The young officer had only been on the police force for eight weeks.
Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers revealed a bushfire had been lit by the gunmen allegedly in an attempt to force the remaining two officers out of hiding before backup arrived.
Leavers revealed the team of 16 special forces officers sent in to retrieve the dead bodies of their colleagues and Dare and to extract Brough from the burning bush were also shot at in a final sickening act.
