Saturday, December 13, 2014

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Letter to supporters 23rd November 2014

23rd November 2014
Approaching the end of 2014 I feel compelled to update our 97000 followers on where we currently stand.  I sit here pondering on not just what has happened to me and my family but the generalised state of the atrocities being carried out by some members of the Qld Police Force.  I saw on the news as recently as last week another citizen shot and killed by police and a double amputee and his carer being mistreated and beaten at a local Brisbane shopping centre by Qld Police officers.  Ian Leavers from the Qld Police Union yet again appeared on television justifying these police officers’ actions although not present at the time of course.  In my opinion, on the day of Jason’s death and the following day Ian Leavers in his capacity of Qld Police Union President with his vicious and malicious lies about Jason having a fully loaded semi-automatic pistol hunting the officers down with the intention to do harm he had no remorse about the damning lies he had told.  Yet at Jason’s inquest he explained to the Coroner Michael Barnes that he had changed his ways and in my belief the same statements continue to be voiced by him every time a Qld Police officer is involved in an incident that calls their conduct into question.  In my mind my son’s death was covered up and swept under a carpet by the Qld government, Qld Attorney General Jarrod Bleijie, ex Qld Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson, current Qld Police Commissioner Ian Stewart, state Police Minister Jack Dempsey, Qld Ethical Standards, Qld CMC, Qld Police Union President Ian Leavers, Ex Qld state Coroner Michael Barnes.  In my own personal opinion, even taking into account the final submission by the State Coroners right hand man Peter Johns the outcome of Jason’s inquest should have been entirely different but yet due to what I believe to be the gutless and cowardly act of Michael Barnes who obviously takes his cues from above, he ignored his right hand man and found Thomas Hess acted within the law.  This whole life changing trauma is not only about my son being possibly murdered by Qld Police Officer Thomas Hess, it’s now become something that all of Qld and possibly Australia should protect ourselves against.  The distortion of facts to be allowed to be given and played by the media, by the hierarchy of the Qld Government and Qld Police force respectively and what I believe to be the illegal gagging of the real facts to prevent the people of Qld aka Australia from hearing the real facts.  With the passing of what I believe to be one gutless man who refused to at least stand up and make the honourable decision to hold Police Officers accountable and face a jury like any lay person would have to.  The spirit of this family or my resolve will not succumb to threats by anyone including Jarrod Bleijie the Qld Attorney General or Assistant Police Commissioner Ross Barnett (As per previous letters uploaded on this site).  What is a clear problem in our state of Qld started for me with the tragic death of my son Jason on 17th April 2012 but has become a quest to expose the corruption that exists throughout the Qld Police force and The Qld hierarchy.  I will continue to do this in a righteous, lawful and peaceful manner.  I ask that you share my blogsite with anyone and everyone you know, not just to support Jason but to also support all the victims of Qld Police crime.  The corruption within Qld Police makes it difficult for those young officers who are upholding the law to perform their duties efficiently.  In my opinion Thomas Hess may have gotten away with murder thanks to the help of the Qld Government and Police hierarchy.  (So he thinks.)  I ask all of our followers to keep watching and sharing this blogsite.  Justice must prevail.
Yours Faithfully


Stephen Protheroe

Monday, September 29, 2014

Rememberance Day



29th September 2014

Today is National Police Remembrance day for the brave and selfless officers who lost their lives defending our rights as citizens to live in peace and safety.  They are true heroes who deserve to be recognised and I ask that if you can’t march with them then at least give them a minutes silence out of respect and thanks.  I personally salute them for their sacrifices and offer my heartfelt condolences to all of their families.  Lest we forget.  Having said that there is a particular element in all Police Forces in my mind particularly the Qld Police Force which has a rogue element using their badges and guns as a licence to kill or murder and is supported by the mateship mentality of the Qld Government and Qld Police hierarchy.
On 17th April 2012 my son Jason was shot twice in the back of his body and died at the hands of Qld Police Officer Detective Thomas Hess from Carseldine Police station.  At the Coronial Inquest Coroner Michael Barnes found that Detective Thomas Hess acted within the grounds of the law despite the overwhelming evidence that my son was unarmed.  In a cowardly and unprecedented move five days after the closing of the inquest he then went on to gag the evidence so the public could never hear the true version of the events that transpired that fateful day.
There is a group called Australian Police Watch which was set up for victims of crime by Police.  I became aware of this organisation after my son’s death and recently I received an invitation to attend a Police Victims Remembrance Day on Sunday October 26, 2014.  Never did I know that I myself or my family would become victims of crime by Police, Police Hierarchy and the Qld Government.  I urge all Australians to read not only my blog site but to support this Police Victims Remembrance day to support all the victims of police crime and cover ups.  From the outset I said my resolve would never waiver and it hasn’t nor will it.  There is a state election looming in March 2015, I intend to bring my son’s death to the forefront of this election and make Campbell Newman and his Government accountable for what they are refusing to do about genuine complaints about the Qld Police Force. 
In closing, lest we forget our fallen Police Officers and lest we forget my son Jason and lest we forget the victims of Police Crime and lest we forget what this government has done to protect the citizens from the rogue elements that I have spoken about.           

Yours Faithfully


Stephen Protheroe

Friday, September 12, 2014

Letter to our supporters

13th September 2014

I woke this morning with thoughts of my son Jason as I have done for the last 2 1/2 years.  Recently I have noticed an upsurge in the amount of followers who are supporting our fight for justice for Jason.  The support network is not only spreading throughout Australia but around the world as well.  In recent media headlines notable cases are Gerard Baden Clay for the killing of his wife Allison and Oscar Pistorius for the killing of his girlfriend Reeva.  One was said to be a professional business man and the other a professional sports person.  Both claimed they were not guilty of committing crimes against their partners as do most defendants accused of these crimes, both have faced a criminal trial and both were found guilty.  The dilemma I face every morning since my son’s death is why should Qld Police Officer Thomas Hess who without doubt killed my son by way of 2 bullets into the back of my son’s body verified by the pathologist who performed the autopsy and witnessed by a civilian who was in the backyard at the time of the killing and had full view of what happened. 
For the gratitude of our supporters whom I have never met I am a 59 year old father of 5 children (including Jason) and a grandfather to 12 children.  I am constantly asked by my wife and adult sons where things stand with justice being served for Jason.  I constantly feel inadequate to my family as everything takes time and it feels like forever.  From the outset I have faced a hostile government, a hostile justice system, a hostile police force but I will not back down.  I have been threatened, I have lost faith in the justice system of Queensland, I have lost faith in the Premier of Queensland, I have lost my eldest son but I will not give up on having the killer of my son brought to justice.  I want to thank each and every one of you for your support you have given me to date and I ask that you continue that support by sharing this story with everyone you know.  I am not asking for money I am asking for help to bring my son’s killer to justice. 
Another high profile killing of a Queensland citizen also killed by a Qld Police Officer was Cameron Doomadgee in 2004 where a community rioted and burnt the Palm Island Police station down.  Whist I would never instigate or condone any form of violent protest what so ever, the one thing that can be said about the Cameron Doomadgee case is that the community stuck together and stood up to a hostile government.   I’m simply asking that as a community we stick together and hold this government to account that laws are passed that a uniform, a badge and a gun does not give you the right to kill or possibly murder any citizen and not face a jury and have the facts tested within a court of law by an independent jury.
At the Coronial Inquest, to my knowledge Coroner Michael Barnes in his findings chose to ignore not only the facts presented by our barrister Sam Di Carlo and Solicitor Craig Stevenson but also the summary of his own right hand man Peter Johns.  He found that Thomas Hess had acted within the grounds of the law ignoring all the factual evidence presented that stated otherwise.  To then add more fuel to the fire the Coroner in an unprecedented move then placed a gag order on the case 5 days following the inquest.  So our fight for Justice has led us to social media as the media has been gagged and they will not help us in our fight no matter how many facts we present to them as they are all too scared of this government.  What happened to freedom of speech?  
I often ask myself why me? Why Jason? Why my family? This could have happened to any person anywhere in Queensland.  If this person had been anyone but a Queensland Police Officer I believe I would have faced a sympathetic police hierarchy and government.  Even after all that has happened I hold no malice towards the Queensland Police Force as a whole, I still believe that majority of our Qld Police Force are fighting to serve and protect us as citizens of our state.  I also believe that most decent and honourable Police Officers agree that Thomas Hess should face a jury.  It is a blight on the Queensland Premier and government that as a citizen of Queensland holding most of the evidence of this case I should have to take out a private prosecution against the killer of my son knowing the evidence exactly as I know it, simply because this person is a Police Officer.  I currently have my legal team preparing for this.     
The reality is simple Thomas Hess by his own admission deliberately shot and killed my son, he doesn’t deny it.  So the question is what is this government trying to cover up? Campbell Newman said after the last Stafford Bi election where his team was thrashed that he would start listening to the people.  Well he’s not listening to me or my family and it is quite clear that this Government after receiving letters from the Attorney General Jarrod Bleijie and Deputy Police Commissioner Ross Barnett wants me silenced.  This government and Police force has clearly swept my son’s death under a carpet to protect their own.  There is an election looming early next year and with your help I ask that if they’re not prepared to bring Thomas Hess to a jury trial then as a united front you help me rid us of this government and sweep it under a carpet, just as they did with my son’s death.

Yours Faithfully


Stephen Protheroe


Saturday, August 30, 2014

Reply to Deputy Commissioner (Specialist Operations Unit)

31st August 2014

Ross Barnett
Deputy Commissioner
(Specialist Operations)
GPO Box 1440
Brisbane Qld 4001

Dear Deputy Commissioner Mr Barnett
I have reposted below a letter that I sent to the Attorney General Jarrod Bleijie on December 13 2013.  I received no such response from this letter until now.  
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice

Jarrod Bleijie

Level 18

State Law Building

50 Ann Street

Brisbane Qld 4000

Dear Mr Bleijie

On December 1 2013 I responded to your letter with regard to the death of my son Jason Protheroe.  In that letter I said I will endeavour to seek legal advice at my earliest convenience and make my decision after receiving such advice.  On reflection, after 13 days to consider what I believe to be your threatening letter I’ve decided that I will not succumb to your bullying or threats and I will not edit or delete anything I have posted on my blog site.  I believe that I have spent 20 months trying to argue the truth and what the Queensland police union, the Ethical Standards unit, The Coroner and you have done nothing but try to cover up the truth.  I say prove to me that I am wrong because I do not lie and I will never ever make a statement that I believe to be incorrect, I am not an idiot and I have the evidence to prove what I am saying.   Why should I believe anything that is said when clearly the hard facts and evidence points to lies and untruths.  A young woman witnessed the events that took place that day, a police officer was told by Troy Weston the partner of Thomas Hess on the day that he saw nothing on the day as he dodged behind a car to take cover, even though in evidence at the Coronial Inquest he claimed he did not say this or he can’t explain where Inspector Jones got that version from.  The truth in this matter remains unchanged.  I believe that Thomas Hess needs to stand trial for the unlawful killing if not murder of my son and if you do your job and investigate the case as a whole with all its inconsistencies then you will understand where I am coming from.  If you as the first law officer of the state can’t see what I believe to be the truth then I will continue to proceed with my own private prosecution in 2014 against:

Ian Leavers (I am still awaiting a reply from the CMC regarding my complaint of misconduct against him for the perversion of justice)

Thomas Hess for the unlawful killing if not murder of my son

Troy Weston who I believe the evidence suggests committed perjury

Mark Reid from Ethical Standards command who I believe the evidence suggests committed perjury (I am still awaiting a reply from the CMC regarding my complaint of misconduct against him for the perversion of justice)

Constable Belinda Baker who I believe the evidence suggests committed perjury

I ask you where are the responses and answers to all of my legitimate complaints I have submitted? How long does it take to pick up a phone and ask the question “where are we at with this?”  As the number one law man of the state I expect you have the power to get answers.

In summary, a fair system would see that it is unmistakable that Thomas Hess killed my son by way of two gunshot wounds to the back of his body contrary to what Michael Barnes stated in his findings. Pathologist Ben Ong originally stated that it would be difficult if not impossible to interpret and reconstruct how these shots were sustained in the circumstances as described in Police Form 1.  This same Pathologist stated at the Coronial Inquest that he changed his autopsy results because Ethical Standards aka Mark Reid asked him to.  No matter how much I love my son the reality is I was not there on the day.  I have never ever said I was there, the only thing I have ever tried to do and will continue to do is search for the truth.  The greatest respect I can show Jason and the legacy I can leave to my family and Jason’s children is to stand up for the truth, not be bullied, not turn a blind eye to the truth, not be silenced by the hierarchy of the Qld Police service or the Government bodies including the Ethical Standards Command, Crime and Misconduct Commission and the Attorney General’s Office aka Jarrod Bleijie.    

Yours Faithfully

Stephen Protheroe



For approximately 9 months I waited for a response from the Attorney General Jarrod Bleijie and heard absolutely nothing and now I am faced with a renewed threat from you.  Could this be because of the approximate 50000 people who are now following the truth with interest as to what this government has done to my son and this family?  I will once again state uncategorically that I will not be bullied, threatened or silenced by your threats.  I will reiterate that I made a pledge over my son’s dead body, for him, his children and my family that I will not stop until Thomas Hess faces an independent jury over the killing, possible murder of my son.  Your letter states that I immediately remove any information which falls within the scope of the non-publication order but yet you do not state which information this is.  Firstly in section 41 of the information you sent me it states that a coroner before, during or immediately after the holding of an inquest may make an order prohibiting the publication of information relating to, or arising at an inquest.  This order was made 5 days after the inquest was finalised and to my knowledge this act by Coroner Michael Barnes was a precedent and has never been tested in a court of law, I have always questioned the legitimacy of it under the law.  I raised this issue with Peter Johns counsel for the coroner at the time.  Why did he do it and what is this government trying to hide?  If what they are saying is true then why would the government want to prevent the people of this state from hearing and reading the truth within the media.  On 24th March 2012 Campbell Newman was elected Premier of Queensland 19 days prior to my son being shot dead by way of 2 bullet wounds to the back of my son Jason’s body by Snr Constable Thomas Hess of Carseldine CIB.  He won on a platform of openness and honesty to look after the people of Queensland.  He has done nothing for my son, he has done nothing for the truth of what happened to my son and in fact has openly supported his Attorney General and his police force and his court system.  He has blatantly sat back and allowed my son’s death to be swept under the carpet.  There is a state election looming in 2015 and I intend to do my very best to make this an election issue.  Well may Police Union President aka Police Officer Ian Leavers have stated damning and malicious lies on national media the afternoon my son Jason was shot by Police Officer Thomas Hess by 2 gun shots to the back of his body in fact stating that he was shot in the chest and lower abdomen.  Then went on to state words to the effect that the officer involved was a good family man and it was a case of shoot or be shot, he also said words to the effect that my son had stood in front of Thomas Hess with a fully loaded semi-automatic pistol hunting him down leaving him no place to go.  At a later date Ian Leavers stated words to the effect that he made a mistake and that he understands that Jason was not shot in the chest and lower abdomen as he reported.  Jack Dempsey promised on national television that the investigation would be open and transparent, another lie.  If it was so open and transparent why was it gagged?  It was proven that my son never held a fully loaded semi-automatic pistol and the pistol shown on the national news was actually the gun of a Queensland Police Officer probably the gun that shot and killed Jason and let’s never forget the Partner of Thomas Hess who never at any stage saw a gun in Jason’s hands or saw Thomas Hess remove any weapon from Jason’s person after he lay dead on the ground. The most damning evidence of all is an independent eye witness who saw exactly what happened and stated that Thomas Hess shot Jason dead whilst he was unarmed in any way.  The independent eye witness has never altered her version of events in any way, unlike the police version of events that has changed repeatedly to suit the scenario that they feel they need to have to protect their own.
Now my family faces this new threat.  Our grief is as constant and unbearable as it was the fateful day this happened.  We live under constant fear of police officers storming our home, goose steps coming down our driveway in the middle of the night.  We have always tried to act in a lawful and honest way and our plight is very simple we want to see the government change the law that all police officers should stand trial and face a jury like any civilian has to.  We don’t want to watch another family suffer and go through what we have endured for over 2 years and continue to endure every day of our lives.  I stand by these words by stating this I intend to make this an election issue.  If you are a little peeved at my blog site get ready to be really peeved off as I intend to do letterbox drops and billboards throughout the state and make this a real election issue.  I will not stand by and let my son’s killing be swept under the carpet.  I will not allow you to continue to ignore and intimidate my quest, I have a right to let the people of this state know exactly what’s happened so that no other family ever faces the horrific challenge to find the truth.  No man be it police officer or civilian should be allowed to kill someone and not stand trial and be found innocent or guilty by a jury.  I have always accepted that if an independent jury found Senior Constable Thomas Hess innocent of illegally killing my son Jason at a fair and honest trial I would accept the verdict.  But I will never accept one man Coroner Michael Barnes making this decision without the evidence being tested in a court of law.  I will be asking the people of this state to continue to share with as many people as possible my blog site in order to allow them to see the type of government that is manipulating this case.

Yours Faithfully


Stephen Protheroe


Letter Received from Deputy Commissioner (Specials Operations Unit)


Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Letter 15/7/2014


Tuesday, 15 July 2014

Stephen Protheroe

RE: GERARD BADEN CLAY CONVICTED TODAY OF MURDERING WIFE ALISON

 

My name is Stephen Protheroe. I’m the father of Jason Protheroe. Three days prior to the disappearance and murder of Alison Baden Clay my son Jason was shot dead by Queensland Police Officer Thomas Hess by way of two gun shot wounds to the back of his body.

The only difference between Gerard Baden Clay and Thomas Hess getting away with murder is that Baden Clay chose the wrong career. He should have become a Qld Police Detective and have his police gang mates lie and protect him with their brotherhood mentality, and a government too scared or too corrupt to stand up and give my son Jason a fair chance at justice, like what was given to Alison and her family.

Unlike Alison, the evidence at Jason's coronial inquest was not circumstantial. There was an eye witness to the murder of my son by Detective Thomas Hess. The only other witness was Senior Constable Troy Weston, the partner of Thomas Hess.

At Jason’s coronial inquest, lead council assisting the Coroner, Peter Johns, stated that very little weight should be placed on the evidence from Senior Constable Troy Weston. Peter Johns also stated in his closing submissions that there was no basis on which you would comfortably find or find at all that Krystal Sinn (the independent, non-police eye witness) lied.

Police Minister Jack Dempsy, on national television, promised my family and the public an open and transparent investigation, yet five days after the closure of the inquest, coroner Michael Barnes gagged all the evidence from the media and the public.  I believe this was done solely because of my efforts to inform the public of the facts that came out during the course of the inquiry that was paramount to the disclosure of the real truth.  I believe it also proves that Jack Dempsy’s words were nothing more than a disguise to fool the people of this state in an attempt to cover the actions of his own men.

A jury of twelve people found Gerard Baden Clay guilty of Alison's murder based on circumstantial evidence. The media was not intimidated and printed what appeared to be the truth for Alison and her family. And yet five days after closing the coronial inquest into Jason’s death, coroner Michael Barnes gagged all of the evidence from the public and the media, preventing the truth from being told. What was he or the Queensland Government scared of? Take a police officer out of this equation and ask yourself how many coroners decisions are gagged from media and public scrutiny. As I’ve stated before, a badge and a gun does not give you the right to kill!

 As Jason’s father I’m aware of the real evidence and my resolve will not be broken.  I believe the killer of my son, Police Officer, Thomas Hess is no different to Gerard Baden Clay, Husband and real estate agent and therefore should not be treated any differently because he chose a career as a Qld police officer.

In summary, I have been threatened by the Attorney General Jarrod Bleijie with contempt of court if I persist in speaking the truth of the gagged evidence of my sons murder-on this blog.

 The media may be too scared to print the truth about my son for fear of retribution by the government run court system, but I am not. I intend to defy the corrupt order given by Coroner Michael Barnes and will openly share the real visual and audio evidence supplied by the Police officer who put two bullets into the back of my son’s body, Detective Constable Thomas Hess, his partner, Senior Detective Troy Weston and independent eye witness Crystal Sinn who are the only people present at the time of my son’s death.

I would like to sincerely offer my condolences to the family of Alison Baden Clay. May you finally find peace and closure.

 

Myself and my family stand alone. We do not have the support of the government and now the gag order has prevented us from having the support of the media.

Please help us in our quest to be heard by giving your opinions and use social media to share with your friends. 

 

Steve Protheroe

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Letter to Attorney General - 2 years after Jason's Death

16th April, 2014

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
Jarrod Bleijie
Level 18
State Law Building
50 Ann Street
Brisbane Qld 4000
Dear Mr Bleijie
I have now written to you on 3 separate occasions (1st December 2013, 14th December 2013 and 23rd March 2014) and here I am yet again writing to you as I am yet to receive any form of response from you with regard to any of my letters.  It has been 2 years since Jason was shot and killed by Detective Thomas Hess and this government continues to sit on its hands and do nothing but ignore the facts, the evidence and the undeniable truth that things just don’t add up here. 
We have asked you several times to review the evidence of Jason’s case, have an open look at all the inconsistencies, and be honest with the citizens of Queensland.  I ask you yet again why should a Police Officer not face a jury of 12 independent people like any other lay person?  Two years on my family continue our fight for justice for Jason and we will not rest until the day that Detective Thomas Hess faces a jury and we are given a verdict from independent people, after the evidence is tried and tested, after all the inconsistencies are probed and answers given as to why versions have changed over and over again by the Police.  Only then can we truly accept the fate of our son.
On that point of versions changing, are you aware that at the initial critical interview with Detective Thomas Hess at the Boondall Police Station, the afternoon of the shooting.  Inspector Walton asks Detective Thomas Hess how Jason was shot in the back and Detective Thomas Hess responded by saying because he was going for cover, he had the perfect cover, and I had none.  Yet the following day at his walk through his version of events changed to Jason and I were standing approx. 2 meters apart, face to face, stationary, arms out stretched, then I aimed for centre of mass and fired and Jason was still standing when I finished firing.
I am also reiterating the last inconsistencies I advised you of, and with each letter I write to you I will include another inconsistency.  On the afternoon of Jason’s killing Ian Leavers in his capacity of Qld Police Union President stated words to the effect that the reputation of these two detectives involved were beyond reproach.  Are you aware that in the short period Detective Thomas Hess, the killer if not murderer of my son has been with Qld Police Force approximately 5 years.  In this short time Detective Thomas Hess has 3 complaints of allegations against his name including 5th March 2007 Police Officer may be supplying local drug suppliers with information identifying details relating to planned police raids in Karanda, Mareeba and Cairns district. 23rd May 2011 officer drew firearm although not discharged and 28th June 2011 forced confessions/threats to induce admissions/confessions/obtain incriminating evidence.
Are you also aware in the evidence that Thomas Hess started his own recording from the lanyard around his neck after the shooting occurred?  During this recording an officer came up to Hess and clearly asks did he have a gun? Thomas Hess replied yeh mate yeh.  Then he removed his lanyard/recording device and placed it down, you then hear him go off and whisper to this officer before he returns for approx. 1min 40seconds.  It is not clear exactly what is being said between Hess and this other officer however parts that can be made out clearly demonstrate that he is giving a version of what happened.  At the inquest he was asked if the officer he was talking to could have been Officer Weston and he replied with “quite possibly it could have been him”.  Once again all of this contradicts the statements given by Hess and Weston that they had not spoken at all.
In summary, two years has passed since Jason was shot dead by Thomas Hess and still no justice has been seen.  Well may you have your text book protocol to cover up, distort, pollute, lie, manipulate and to pervert the course of justice but I am here to tell you that I will not be threatened, intimidated, abused, accused or silenced.  Your ignorance is something I anticipated long ago.  Not only your ignorance but your arrogance has proven that the police gang mentality is alive and rife in this state and you are the “first lawman” of this state.  I have all the video, audio, photographic and written evidence of Jason’s case and I will continue to share this with people on my blogsite.  I am currently making a documentary showing all the inconsistencies and differing accounts and I will air this documentary on the internet for the public to form their own opinion.  I was gagged from telling the truth, the media was gagged from printing the truth and the public were gagged from hearing the truth, however I will be gagged no longer.

 Yours Faithfully



Stephen Protheroe

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Letter to Attorney General 23-3-14

23rd March 2013

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
Jarrod Bleijie
Level 18
State Law Building
50 Ann Street
Brisbane Qld 4000
Dear Mr Bleijie
I wrote to you on 1st December 2013 and again on 14th December 2013 (I have attached copies of these letters) and I am yet to receive any form of response from you with regard to either letter.  Since writing those letters we have received a response from the Ethical Standards Command with regard to the complaint of perjury that I made against Inspector Mark Reid the lead investigator in the case relating to the death of my son Jason Protheroe.  I have attached a copy of the letter that I sent the Crime and Misconduct Commission and the replies I have received from Queensland Police Service Ethical Standards branch and Crime and Misconduct Commission for your investigation. 
At no point did I lodge an official complaint against Snr Detective Sergeant Anthony Buxton, nor did I suggest that he did not pass on information to Inspector Mark Reid.  In fact I felt quite comfortable with the reassurance from Detective Anthony Buxton that he did in fact pass on all my questions and feedback to the boss aka lead Investigator Inspector Mark Reid.  The initial letter received from the Crime and Misconduct Commission stated that I would be contacted via Qld Police Investigating this matter and yet neither myself, my son Stuart or my son Stephen were contacted by anyone regarding this investigation, so how exactly did any investigation occur without even talking to the key players who were present for the conversation that I referred to in my letter.  The post hearing letters that I have received are a continual indictment of how I believe the case was run from day one.  I believe they are still continuing with their deliberate and damning lies. I believe they have continually perverted and polluted the case from the outset from Ian Leavers the Qld Police union President, Senior Constable Thomas Hess if not the murderer of my son, undisputedly the killer of my son, Troy Weston the partner of Thomas Hess, Inspector Mark Reid the lead investigator of the case and Constable Belinda Baker.  The Minister for Police Jack Dempsey stated on national television that my sons case would be open and transparent, yet Coroner Michael Barnes gagged the evidence of this case 5 days after the inquest concluded with the support of the Qld Government, Qld Police force, Ethical Standards, CMC and Police union to suppress the truth so that they could legally sweep my son’s death under a rug and protect their own police member aka gang member.  Open and Transparent in what way exactly?  In my mind this was no more than an attempt at the perversion of justice, if I’m wrong please explain, I eagerly await your reply as would any intelligent person reading this letter.
We have asked you several times to look at Jason’s case as a whole, look at all the inconsistencies and look at the evidence as a whole.  I continue to ask the question why should a Police Officer not face a jury of 12 independent people like any other lay person, especially when there is inconsistencies in the evidence including from the shooting officer’s own partner on the day.  As a family we will continue our fight for justice for Jason until the day that Thomas Hess faces a jury and we are given a verdict from independent people, after the evidence is tried and tested, after all the inconsistencies are probed and answers given as to why versions have changed over and over again by the Police.  Only then can we truly accept the fate of our son. 
On the afternoon of Jason’s killing Ian Leavers in his capacity of Qld Police Union President stated words to the effect that the reputation of these two detectives involved were beyond reproach.  Are you aware that in the short period Detective Thomas Hess, the killer if not murderer of my son has been with Qld Police Force approximately 5 years.  In this short time Detective Thomas Hess has 3 complaints of allegations against his name including 5th March 2007 Police Officer may be supplying local drug suppliers with information identifying details relating to planned police raids in Karanda, Mareeba and Cairns district. 23rd May 2011 officer drew firearm although not discharged and 28th June 2011 forced confessions/threats to induce admissions/confessions/obtain incriminating evidence.
Are you also aware in the evidence that Thomas Hess started his own recording from the lanyard around his neck after the shooting occurred?  During this recording an officer came up to Hess and clearly asks did he have a gun? Thomas Hess replied yeh mate yeh.  Then he removed his lanyard/recording device and placed it down, you then hear him go off and whisper to this officer before he returns for approx. 1min 40seconds.  It is not clear exactly what is being said between Hess and this other officer however parts that can be made out clearly demonstrate that he is giving a version of what happened.  At the inquest he was asked if the officer he was talking to could have been Officer Weston and he replied with “quite possibly it could have been him”.  Once again all of this contradicts the statements given by Hess and Weston that they had not spoken at all.
Are you also aware that at the inquest Thomas Hess’ own barrister made a statement that Thomas Hess should be given a commendation for killing our son?  Given the facts and the evidence of this case I ask what sort of justice system we have here in Queensland.  Although I have only mentioned a couple of inconsistencies here, there are countless others, in fact I’m sure I could write a whole book about this case and the inconsistencies.
I ask you how three people directly witnessed the killing of my son and two out of the three including an independent eye witness Krystal Sinn and a Police officer Snr Detective Troy Weston firstly number one did not see a weapon in my son’s hands as he was being shot dead by Detective Thomas Hess although they both said they witnessed the shooting.  Secondly nor did they see Detective Thomas Hess remove the alleged weapon from Jason’s hands as he lay motionless on the ground.  Even though Snr Detective Weston was supposedly right there covering Jason as Hess removed the alleged weapon from Jason’s hands and threw it backwards onto the grass.  I believe Snr Detective Weston stated that he first saw the alleged gun in the grass after coming back into the rear of the yard after calling the ambulance.  I believe that in any other killing this alone would be cause for this case to be tried and tested by an independent jury of 12 people.
In summary, I believe because Qld Police Detective Thomas Hess shot and killed my son and he is the only person to state uncategorically that he saw the alleged weapon although the two eye witnesses did not see this alleged weapon at any time during the killing, I believe the only reason a jury trial was not held is because he is a Qld Police Officer.   No Police Officer is above the law.  From day one I have fought a hostile Qld Police Union, a hostile Qld Police Ethical Standards Unit, a hostile Qld Police Force, a hostile Crime and Misconduct Commission, a hostile Coroner, a hostile Government and a hostile Attorney General and yet these post killing correspondence clearly show what you’ve done throughout the whole case, you’ve ignored all of the evidence, you sit back and you’ve now decided to say absolutely nothing to me accept distort what I’ve been saying and then turn it around and tell us that everything is above board.  Well it’s not “above board”, I don’t accept it.  We’ve asked you to look at our case, what have you done?  We’re tired of this Police gang mentality, it’s got to stop.  Justice is there for everybody.  If the Qld Police are prepared to take the applause when solving high profile murder cases then they also better get prepared for the criticism when totally ignoring facts to protect their own members.  Whilst I would never compare police investigations or cases anyone who has lost a son through murder of any form knows the days faced through investigation and unanswered questions.  But when your son is killed by a member of the Qld Police Force it makes the struggle so much harder.  I only hope I can maintain the courage and dignity to get my resolve. So Mr Bleijie the first lawman of the state I ask you what have you done and are you going to investigate our son’s case or are you going to continue to ignore our correspondence in the hope that we might just disappear one day?

 Yours Faithfully



Stephen Protheroe



Attachments to Letter To Attorney General 23-3-14




Sunday, March 23, 2014

Letter to Attorney General 23-3-14 *** Further Attachments will Follow Tomorrow *****

23rd March 2013

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
Jarrod Bleijie
Level 18
State Law Building
50 Ann Street
Brisbane Qld 4000
Dear Mr Bleijie
I wrote to you on 1st December 2013 and again on 14th December 2013 (I have attached copies of these letters) and I am yet to receive any form of response from you with regard to either letter.  Since writing those letters we have received a response from the Ethical Standards Command with regard to the complaint of perjury that I made against Inspector Mark Reid the lead investigator in the case relating to the death of my son Jason Protheroe.  I have attached a copy of the letter that I sent the Crime and Misconduct Commission and the replies I have received from Queensland Police Service Ethical Standards branch and Crime and Misconduct Commission for your investigation. 
At no point did I lodge an official complaint against Snr Detective Sergeant Anthony Buxton, nor did I suggest that he did not pass on information to Inspector Mark Reid.  In fact I felt quite comfortable with the reassurance from Detective Anthony Buxton that he did in fact pass on all my questions and feedback to the boss aka lead Investigator Inspector Mark Reid.  The initial letter received from the Crime and Misconduct Commission stated that I would be contacted via Qld Police Investigating this matter and yet neither myself, my son Stuart or my son Stephen were contacted by anyone regarding this investigation, so how exactly did any investigation occur without even talking to the key players who were present for the conversation that I referred to in my letter.  The post hearing letters that I have received are a continual indictment of how I believe the case was run from day one.  I believe they are still continuing with their deliberate and damning lies. I believe they have continually perverted and polluted the case from the outset from Ian Leavers the Qld Police union President, Senior Constable Thomas Hess if not the murderer of my son, undisputedly the killer of my son, Troy Weston the partner of Thomas Hess, Inspector Mark Reid the lead investigator of the case and Constable Belinda Baker.  The Minister for Police Jack Dempsey stated on national television that my sons case would be open and transparent, yet Coroner Michael Barnes gagged the evidence of this case 5 days after the inquest concluded with the support of the Qld Government, Qld Police force, Ethical Standards, CMC and Police union to suppress the truth so that they could legally sweep my son’s death under a rug and protect their own police member aka gang member.  Open and Transparent in what way exactly?  In my mind this was no more than an attempt at the perversion of justice, if I’m wrong please explain, I eagerly await your reply as would any intelligent person reading this letter.
We have asked you several times to look at Jason’s case as a whole, look at all the inconsistencies and look at the evidence as a whole.  I continue to ask the question why should a Police Officer not face a jury of 12 independent people like any other lay person, especially when there is inconsistencies in the evidence including from the shooting officer’s own partner on the day.  As a family we will continue our fight for justice for Jason until the day that Thomas Hess faces a jury and we are given a verdict from independent people, after the evidence is tried and tested, after all the inconsistencies are probed and answers given as to why versions have changed over and over again by the Police.  Only then can we truly accept the fate of our son. 
On the afternoon of Jason’s killing Ian Leavers in his capacity of Qld Police Union President stated words to the effect that the reputation of these two detectives involved were beyond reproach.  Are you aware that in the short period Detective Thomas Hess, the killer if not murderer of my son has been with Qld Police Force approximately 5 years.  In this short time Detective Thomas Hess has 3 complaints of allegations against his name including 5th March 2007 Police Officer may be supplying local drug suppliers with information identifying details relating to planned police raids in Karanda, Mareeba and Cairns district. 23rd May 2011 officer drew firearm although not discharged and 28th June 2011 forced confessions/threats to induce admissions/confessions/obtain incriminating evidence.
Are you also aware in the evidence that Thomas Hess started his own recording from the lanyard around his neck after the shooting occurred?  During this recording an officer came up to Hess and clearly asks did he have a gun? Thomas Hess replied yeh mate yeh.  Then he removed his lanyard/recording device and placed it down, you then hear him go off and whisper to this officer before he returns for approx. 1min 40seconds.  It is not clear exactly what is being said between Hess and this other officer however parts that can be made out clearly demonstrate that he is giving a version of what happened.  At the inquest he was asked if the officer he was talking to could have been Officer Weston and he replied with “quite possibly it could have been him”.  Once again all of this contradicts the statements given by Hess and Weston that they had not spoken at all.
Are you also aware that at the inquest Thomas Hess’ own barrister made a statement that Thomas Hess should be given a commendation for killing our son?  Given the facts and the evidence of this case I ask what sort of justice system we have here in Queensland.  Although I have only mentioned a couple of inconsistencies here, there are countless others, in fact I’m sure I could write a whole book about this case and the inconsistencies.
I ask you how three people directly witnessed the killing of my son and two out of the three including an independent eye witness Krystal Sinn and a Police officer Snr Detective Troy Weston firstly number one did not see a weapon in my son’s hands as he was being shot dead by Detective Thomas Hess although they both said they witnessed the shooting.  Secondly nor did they see Detective Thomas Hess remove the alleged weapon from Jason’s hands as he lay motionless on the ground.  Even though Snr Detective Weston was supposedly right there covering Jason as Hess removed the alleged weapon from Jason’s hands and threw it backwards onto the grass.  I believe Snr Detective Weston stated that he first saw the alleged gun in the grass after coming back into the rear of the yard after calling the ambulance.  I believe that in any other killing this alone would be cause for this case to be tried and tested by an independent jury of 12 people.
In summary, I believe because Qld Police Detective Thomas Hess shot and killed my son and he is the only person to state uncategorically that he saw the alleged weapon although the two eye witnesses did not see this alleged weapon at any time during the killing, I believe the only reason a jury trial was not held is because he is a Qld Police Officer.   No Police Officer is above the law.  From day one I have fought a hostile Qld Police Union, a hostile Qld Police Ethical Standards Unit, a hostile Qld Police Force, a hostile Crime and Misconduct Commission, a hostile Coroner, a hostile Government and a hostile Attorney General and yet these post killing correspondence clearly show what you’ve done throughout the whole case, you’ve ignored all of the evidence, you sit back and you’ve now decided to say absolutely nothing to me accept distort what I’ve been saying and then turn it around and tell us that everything is above board.  Well it’s not “above board”, I don’t accept it.  We’ve asked you to look at our case, what have you done?  We’re tired of this Police gang mentality, it’s got to stop.  Justice is there for everybody.  If the Qld Police are prepared to take the applause when solving high profile murder cases then they also better get prepared for the criticism when totally ignoring facts to protect their own members.  Whilst I would never compare police investigations or cases anyone who has lost a son through murder of any form knows the days faced through investigation and unanswered questions.  But when your son is killed by a member of the Qld Police Force it makes the struggle so much harder.  I only hope I can maintain the courage and dignity to get my resolve. So Mr Bleijie the first lawman of the state I ask you what have you done and are you going to investigate our son’s case or are you going to continue to ignore our correspondence in the hope that we might just disappear one day?

 Yours Faithfully



Stephen Protheroe