Police story of shooting a 'contrived lie'

29 Aug 2012, 6:39 pm   -   Source: AAP

The Police Integrity Commission has accused two officers of lying about the fatal shooting of a man who was suffering a mental illness.

Two police officers accused of lying about the fatal shooting of a mentally ill man have given differing accounts of the incident to the Police Integrity Commission.

Their accounts also vary from that of fellow officers at the scene and directly conflict with evidence given by three paramedics and the victim's father.

Adam Salter, 36, died when Sergeant Sheree Bisset shot him in the back at his father's Lakemba home, in Sydney's southwest, in November 2009.

Sgt Bisset, three colleagues and four paramedics were at the house after Mr Salter stabbed himself in the chest.

He was being treated on the floor of the kitchen when he got up, grabbed the same knife out of the sink and was shot.

Sergeant Emily Metcalf gave evidence to the PIC in Sydney on Wednesday.

"I want to put it to you that your evidence is nothing more than a contrived lie to attempt to justify Bissett's shooting of Adam Salter," counsel assisting Geoffrey Watson said.

She disagreed.

"This was bad policing on 18 November 2009," Mr Watson said.

Stephen Rushton SC, representing Mr Salter's father, suggested Sgt Metcalf was not in the kitchen at the time of the shooting.

Radio logs show she reported shots fired and requested back-up but it wasn't until minutes later that she reported a police shooting.

Mr Rushton said someone else at the scene told her after her first radio call that it was Sgt Bissett who fired the shot.

"There was no need for urgent police back-up," he said.

"That's incorrect," she replied.

"You weren't sure who fired the gun," he said.

"That's not right," Sgt Metcalf replied.

The inquiry heard that Sgt Bisset, Sgt Metcalf and Senior Constable Leah Wilson left a probationary constable in the kitchen when a paramedic yelled out for help.

Mr Watson challenged Snr Const Wilson, implying she did not witness the incident and fabricated her testimony.

"To make it simple, a lie that you worked out to try and excuse the shooting of Adam Salter," he said.

"I don't agree with that," Snr Const Wilson replied.

Both officers who gave evidence on Wednesday burst into tears while giving evidence.

"I would say it's tragic and horrific but I would not say it's bad policing," Snr Const Wilson said.

They both said Probationary Constable Aaron Abela had his hands on Mr Salter when Sgt Bisset yelled "Taser, Taser, Taser" and fired.

They told differing accounts but both said he was stabbing himself in the neck and made no gesture to stab or harm anyone in the room.

Sgt Bisset previously told police Const Abela was locked in a struggle with Mr Salter, who was about to stab him when she fired.

Three paramedics and the victim's father, Adrian Salter, said Const Abela never touched Mr Salter and the only other officer to enter the kitchen during the incident was Sgt Bisset.

The hearings continue on Thursday.

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