2011 Hectorville siege
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Hectorville siege was a siege
that took place between the hours of 2:30am and 10:30am on Friday 29 April 2011 in the small suburb of Hectorville
, east of Adelaide in the state of South Australia
, Australia
, when a 39-year old male went on a shooting rampage, killing 3 people and wounding 2 police officers, before holding a 8 hour stand off with police before finally being arrested.
which had recently been poisoned. It is also speculated that Mr. Corbo was suffering from mental health
issues, stemming from a relationship breakup in December 2010. It is alleged the weapon used during the shootings was a shotgun
, a Class-A category firearm. It is not known if Corbo has a legitimate license for the weapon. However Police would later remove 3 further firearms from his property.
, in the hope of a better life for their son, as they felt that South Africa was a too violent place to bring a child up. The two deceased victims were on holiday visiting the family, and were due to return home to South Africa 2 days after the shooting took place. The family were deeply religious, members of the local Seventh-day Adventist Church
.
and fled with her 14-year old son, and his 11 year old friend, however her 14-year old son was seriously wounded when the gunman shot him as he tried to flee the house.
A South Australia Police
patrol were the first officers on the scene. It is alleged that when the Officers approached the house the gunman once more opened fire with a shotgun
. One officer was seriously wounded when he was shot in the face, the other officer was wounded in the knee, however was able to return fire and drag himself and his wounded colleague to safety, both Officers were taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital
for treatment. The gunman then fled next door back to his property, where he engaged in a tense siege with heavily armed members of the STAR force
. After an 8-hour siege, Police finally entered the property and arrested the gunman without further injuries or fatalities.
, and 2 counts of attempted murder
as well as a string of other offenses. and if convicted will face a maximum penalty of life in prison. He was refused bail
and will appear in court on 2 May.
A day after the shootings occurred, the Police Officer who was seriously wounded after being shot in the jaw, was in a serious but stable condition, under an induced coma
in Royal Adelaide Hospital
. The 14-year old boy who also suffered gunshot wounds was also in a serious, but stable condition with both expected to recover.
The suspect appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court
on 2 May charged with 3 counts of murder, and 2 of attempted murder, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. He will reappear in court on 26 July.
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
that took place between the hours of 2:30am and 10:30am on Friday 29 April 2011 in the small suburb of Hectorville
Hectorville, South Australia
Hectorville is a small lower middle class suburb of Adelaide in the City of Campbelltown. It is one of eight suburbs within the City of Campbelltown.The first house in Hectorville was built by Price Maurice in 1849 next to Fourth Creek...
, east of Adelaide in the state of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, when a 39-year old male went on a shooting rampage, killing 3 people and wounding 2 police officers, before holding a 8 hour stand off with police before finally being arrested.
Suspect
The suspect arrested was announced as being 39 year-old Donato Anthony Corbo, and had had previous dealings with the Police. It is suggested that the reason for the killings may have sparked from an earlier row between the two families over a pet dog, a Staffordshire TerrierStaffordshire Terrier
Staffordshire Terrier may refer to:*Staffordshire Bull Terrier*American Staffordshire Terrier...
which had recently been poisoned. It is also speculated that Mr. Corbo was suffering from mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
issues, stemming from a relationship breakup in December 2010. It is alleged the weapon used during the shootings was a shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
, a Class-A category firearm. It is not known if Corbo has a legitimate license for the weapon. However Police would later remove 3 further firearms from his property.
Victims
The victims were South African immigrants who had arrived in Australia 3 years ago from PretoriaPretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, in the hope of a better life for their son, as they felt that South Africa was a too violent place to bring a child up. The two deceased victims were on holiday visiting the family, and were due to return home to South Africa 2 days after the shooting took place. The family were deeply religious, members of the local Seventh-day Adventist Church
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
.
Events
The incident started at approximately 2:30am when the 39-year old suspect entered his neighbours' property and shot dead the 64-year old man, along with his 65-year old wife, before turning the gun on their 41-year old son-in-law who was also shot dead. A female who was also in the house at the time, rang PoliceSouth Australia Police
The South Australia Police is the police force of the Australian state of South Australia. It is an agency of the Government of South Australia within the South Australian Department of Justice.-History:...
and fled with her 14-year old son, and his 11 year old friend, however her 14-year old son was seriously wounded when the gunman shot him as he tried to flee the house.
A South Australia Police
South Australia Police
The South Australia Police is the police force of the Australian state of South Australia. It is an agency of the Government of South Australia within the South Australian Department of Justice.-History:...
patrol were the first officers on the scene. It is alleged that when the Officers approached the house the gunman once more opened fire with a shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
. One officer was seriously wounded when he was shot in the face, the other officer was wounded in the knee, however was able to return fire and drag himself and his wounded colleague to safety, both Officers were taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital
Royal Adelaide Hospital
The Royal Adelaide Hospital is Adelaide's largest hospital, with 680 beds. Founded in 1840, the Royal Adelaide provides tertiary health care services for South Australia and provides secondary care clinical services to residents of Adelaide's city centre and inner suburbs.The hospital is situated...
for treatment. The gunman then fled next door back to his property, where he engaged in a tense siege with heavily armed members of the STAR force
Special Tasks and Rescue
Special Tasks and Rescue is the Police Tactical Group of the South Australia Police.-History:Formed on 30 November 1978 the South Australian Police STAR Group was a rationalisation of specialist resources into one command/unit. Specialist units had existed prior to 1978 within SAPOL to deal with...
. After an 8-hour siege, Police finally entered the property and arrested the gunman without further injuries or fatalities.
Aftermath
The gunman was later charged with 3 counts of murderMurder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, and 2 counts of attempted murder
Attempted murder
Attempted murder is a crime in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.-Today:In English criminal law, attempted murder is the crime of more than merely preparing to commit unlawful killing and at the same time having a specific intention to cause the death of human being under the Queen's Peace...
as well as a string of other offenses. and if convicted will face a maximum penalty of life in prison. He was refused bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
and will appear in court on 2 May.
A day after the shootings occurred, the Police Officer who was seriously wounded after being shot in the jaw, was in a serious but stable condition, under an induced coma
Induced coma
A barbiturate-induced coma, or barb coma, is a temporary coma brought on by a controlled dose of a barbiturate drug, usually pentobarbital or thiopental...
in Royal Adelaide Hospital
Royal Adelaide Hospital
The Royal Adelaide Hospital is Adelaide's largest hospital, with 680 beds. Founded in 1840, the Royal Adelaide provides tertiary health care services for South Australia and provides secondary care clinical services to residents of Adelaide's city centre and inner suburbs.The hospital is situated...
. The 14-year old boy who also suffered gunshot wounds was also in a serious, but stable condition with both expected to recover.
The suspect appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court
Magistrates' Court of South Australia
The Magistrates' Court of South Australia is South Australia's lowest level court.The Magistrates' Court has a criminal and civil jurisdiction. In its criminal jurisdiction, the Magistrates' Court deals with summary offences, which may be dealt with by a fine, imprisonment of up to two years,...
on 2 May charged with 3 counts of murder, and 2 of attempted murder, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. He will reappear in court on 26 July.
External links
- Timeline of major crimes in AustraliaTimeline of major crimes in AustraliaTimeline of major crimes in Australia-1800s:*26 January 1808 - George Johnston played a key role in the only successful armed takeover of government in Australia's recorded history, the Rum Rebellion...
- Crime in AustraliaCrime in AustraliaCrime-wise, Australia is comparatively a safe place to live, though often the perception of crime is much higher. Human smuggling, human trafficking and the illegal drug trade have all impacted Australia in recent years...
- Crime in South Australia