Alleged Cop Killer's Chilling Claim

A woman who was a passenger in a car when it struck and killed a police officer allegedly told the driver “we ride together, we die together” after the fatal act.

Kari O'Brien's chilling alleged allegation was revealed on Thursday during closing arguments at a committal hearing at Brisbane Magistrates Court, where her legal team sought to have her murder charge dismissed.

Ms O'Brien and her co-accused, Skye Anne Wallis, are both charged with the murder of Senior Constable David Masters on June 26, 2021.

Senior Constable Masters was allegedly struck and killed by the two men as they staked out the Bruce Hwy at Burpengary, north of Brisbane, to stop their allegedly stolen car.

The vehicle was later found burned and abandoned.

Ms Wallis and Ms O'Brien were both committed to stand trial on charges of murder, arson and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Senior Constable Masters' widow Sharon cried after learning of Ms O'Brien's incarceration on Thursday evening.

Barrister Chris Wilson, representing Ms O'Brien, told the court his client had no case to answer as the proceedings entered their fourth day.

In his arguments, Mr Wilson said there was no evidence in the case against his client of murder or manslaughter, or even of the alternative of dangerously driving a vehicle with circumstances aggravating.

Mr Wilson argued there was no evidence implicating him in any other way – other than Ms O'Brien being a passenger in the car.

“The mere presence of my client as a passenger in the car does not result in criminal liability,” he said.

But Crown prosecutor Dejana Kovac said Ms O'Brien made no attempt to dissociate herself from the alleged offending, even after Senior Constable Masters' death.

She said Ms O'Brien was allegedly heard by a witness telling Ms Wallis “we ride together and we die together”.

She also allegedly told another, “I think we just killed a cop.” »

Mr Wilson said the alleged statement did not constitute an admission by his client.

The court heard that a witness, Dylan Hunter, gave a statement saying he was traveling with Ms O'Brien and Ms Wallis in the same car at 7.30pm the night before the alleged incident.

In his statement, he described hearing Ms O'Brien say: “It's the police, don't stop” when she noticed a police vehicle activating its lights and sirens in response to seeing the allegedly vehicle. stolen in north Brisbane.

Ms Kovac said Ms O'Brien also “lied” to police about her alleged involvement – including saying she had separated from Ms Wallis as soon as the car was stopped.

Magistrate Peter Saggers ultimately found there was sufficient evidence to try Ms O'Brien for murder alongside Ms Wallis.

He said the two men's comments after Senior Constable Masters' death could help shed light on the “attitude, intentions and motivations” of Ms O'Brien and Ms Wallis that day.

“That and the continuing remark, in my view, about evading the police and not stopping for them,” Magistrate Saggers said.

“I am sufficiently satisfied that there is sufficient evidence for Ms. O’Brien to also be tried for murder.”

Ms Wallis' charge of unlawful possession of a weapon will remain before the magistrates' court.

Asked if she wanted to say anything in response to the accusations, Ms Wallis replied: “No, Your Honour.”

During the committal hearing, the court heard debris was seen “flying through the air” at the time of the crash.

“I didn't think it was a car, I saw enough debris in the air to believe it was a motorcycle,” said Leif Haas, a witness who was about 500 meters away. from the scene of the accident.

Senior Constable Brenden Werth also testified that Senior Constable Masters was not wearing a fluorescent vest at the time he attempted to stop the car.

The court heard he was seen leaving the safety of a concrete barrier in order to deploy the tire deflation spikes.

During cross-examination, he testified that he viewed the footage and determined that Senior Constable Masters was not wearing a fluorescent vest at the time.

The Crown alleges Ms Wallis was driving a stolen car on Bruce Hwy in Burpengary when police attempted to stop the vehicle.

Senior Constable Masters, 53, was allegedly fatally struck while attempting to apply spikes to stop the vehicle.

Ms O'Brien was believed to have been sitting in the passenger seat at the time.

It is further alleged that the two men fled the scene, setting the vehicle on fire before their arrest.

Both women are charged with murder on grounds that police allege they engaged in the unlawful purpose of evading police for many hours before Ms Wallis drove at a police officer, committing felony murder.

Members of Senior Constable Masters' family, including his widow Sharon and son Jack, attended the committal hearing during the week.