Inquest Opens Into 2015 Sydney Police Shooting Death of Curtis Cheng

A decade after the shocking murder of Sydney police accountant Curtis Cheng, a coroner's inquest has begun, aiming to shed light on the critical failures that allowed a 15-year-old extremist to carry out the attack.

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The events that resulted in the deaths … were shocking and understandably caused serious disquiet in our community.

The proceedings, led by Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee, will scrutinize the knowledge authorities possessed about the young gunman, Farhad Jabar, prior to the October 2015 incident outside NSW Police Force headquarters. The inquest seeks to understand the intelligence surrounding Jabar and his sister, assess the adequacy of risk assessments by intelligence agencies, and determine if earlier intervention was possible.

Rob Ranken SC, Counsel Assisting the Coroner, highlighted the profound impact of the event, stating that the deaths "were shocking and understandably caused serious disquiet in our community." The inquest will also delve into the broader issue of radicalization, examining the "indicia of becoming radicalised" that Jabar may have exhibited.

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The time taken to reach this point … has no doubt had an impact upon you all, and also added to the emotional burden that you have had to bear for many years.

This investigation is crucial for the community, especially for Mr. Cheng's family, who have endured years of emotional burden and multiple court proceedings. As reported by ABC Australia, the renaming of the NSW Police headquarters to honor Mr. Cheng serves as a somber reminder of the tragedy, while the ongoing inquest represents a vital step towards accountability and understanding the systemic issues that led to this devastating act of violence.

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I also acknowledge that this is not the first or only court proceeding you have been involved in over the years, that also creates an additional burden.