A "selfless" man gunned down by police in northern NSW was about more than just the story of his tragic death, his grief-stricken brother has told a coronial inquest.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Corey Selby was pointing an unloaded rifle at officers when they shot him outside the police station in Tenterfield on January 19, 2023.
The father-of-two had called triple zero from his home earlier that day, claiming that his wife and children were in danger.
The 48-year-old told the operator he was going to kill his family and urged officers to arrive quickly.
It was Selby's intention to be shot and he had told his wife to take the kids and leave because he did not want to live anymore, counsel assisting Jake Harris told an inquest into his death.
He had planned to show police his rifle at his home and get them to shoot him, but no officers arrived, Deputy State Coroner Carmel Forbes heard.
Mr Selby then made his way to Tenterfield Police Station and aimed his firearm at officers, unaware his family had been instructed by police to head to the station for safety.
His family were inside the police station at the time of the shooting.
On Thursday, his wife Cindy remembered crying out "no, no, no, no" as she heard gun shots and a short time later saw police carrying Mr Selby.
She said her partner had a history of chronic back pain and past trauma that fed his mental-health issues until "the noise of his mind was overbearing".
"In the end, Corey died by his own hand and I accept that," she told the court in Armidale.
Ms Selby broke into tears as she described her late husband as being the best part of her life and a man who had a big heart and tried to cope with severe depression for years for the sake of his family.
"We built our lives together," she said.
"Corey gave me so much happiness through his presence.
"We as a family are now in the process of figuring out how to navigate our life without him."
Ms Selby said poor mental health remained an issue in the community and her husband was just one of many struggling and ill-equipped to deal with it alone.
In a statement read to the court, younger brother David said Mr Selby and their mother were both targets of his father's abuse.
He said he had been saved because Mr Selby refused to allow the man to touch his younger sibling.
"He was a genuinely selfless person," he said.
"Corey was so much more than a tragic event.
"He was a father, a son, a brother, a friend, a mentor, an idealist, a sacrificer and a provider."
Psychiatrist Andrew Ellis identified a pattern of deterioration in Mr Selby's psychiatric history and said he had a "morbid intention" on the day he died.
He noted how Mr Selby's mental state often rapidly fluctuated from a state of calm to one of impulsivity and agitation, which he said was consistent with suicidal ideation.
The coroner will deliver her findings at a later date.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Australian Associated Press
