Major update in accused cop killer’s case

A woman accused of being behind the wheel of an allegedly stolen car when she mowed down a serving police officer will stand trial for the cop’s murder.

Skye Anne Wallis and her co-accused, Kari O’Brien, are both charged with murdering Senior Constable David Masters after fatally striking him on the Bruce Highway near Burpengary, north of Brisbane, on June 26, 2021.

Lawyers for Ms O’Brien, who is on bail, will make a no-case submission to the court on Thursday afternoon.

Ms Wallis was on Thursday committed to stand trial on charges of murder, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and arson.

A charge of unlawful possession of a weapon will remain before the magistrates court.

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

The case will resume at 2.15pm.

Over the course of the committal hearing, the court was told debris was seen “flying in the air” at the time of the crash.

“I didn’t believe it was a motor car, I saw enough debris in the air to believe it was a motorbike,” witness Leif Haas, who was about 500m from the site of the crash, said.

Senior Constable Brenden Werth also gave evidence Senior Constable Masters was not wearing a fluorescent vest at the time he tried to stop the car.

The court was told he was seen moving from the safety of a concrete barrier in order to deploy the tyre deflation spikes.

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

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

Senior Constable Masters, 53, was allegedly fatally struck while trying to lay road spikes to stop the vehicle.

Ms O’Brien is alleged to have been in the passenger seat at the time.

It is further alleged the pair both fled the scene, torching the vehicle before their arrests.

Both women are charged with murder on the basis that police allege they were engaged in the unlawful purpose of evading police for many hours before Ms Wallis is claimed to have driven at a police officer, committing felony murder.

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