'Bitterly disappointed': Mother of slain police officer on coroner's decision not to hold inquest

The mother of an unarmed police officer killed on the job is bitterly disappointed an inquiry into his death will not go ahead.

On Tuesday, Coroner Janet Anderson ruled out an inquest into the fatal shooting of Constable Matthew Hunt by Eli Epiha in 2020.

Coroner Anderson said it was not necessary because any recommendations she could make to prevent similar deaths have already been addressed by police.

But Diane Hunt said she did not think police were any better equipped now than they were when her son was killed.

"Matthew is dead because of his police uniform and with that in mind, I believe an inquest should have taken place to gain transparency."

Hunt told Morning Report the new frontline training improvement programme, mentioned in the coroner's report, focused on negotiation skills and would not have made a difference.

"We've heard from Constable David Goldfinch [Constable Hunt's partner] on that day that he tried negotiating with the killer but the killer wasn't going to listen to what he had to say.

"It makes you wonder how this new training would have changed the outcome that day if the emphasis is on negotiating skills."

Hunt wanted to see training include situations where police were unarmed, like her son was the day he died.

"The only thing that would have made a difference was if Matthew and David had access to their safety equipment, i.e. guns."

Hunt said she will have to reassess what to do next in the new year.

"I don't understand her [the coroner] reasoning for putting it out five days before Christmas. I'm kind of hurt that that's happened and I'll have to deal with that first."

Epiha is currently serving a sentence of 27 years in prison before he can be considered for parole.