Family Thought They Were Fighting with Jesus

A coronial inquest into the Wieambilla massacre has unveiled the chilling mindset of the trio responsible for the tragic events of December 2022, who believed they were engaged in a divine battle against evil. According to evidence presented, the group, led by Gareth Train, perceived their actions as a fight alongside Jesus, viewing the crossing of a symbolic threshold as the commencement of a war against "demons." This ideology culminated in the fatal shooting of police officers and a neighbor during a missing person search. The inquest highlighted Gareth Train's descent into radicalization, which was exacerbated by his paranoid personality disorder evolving into delusional beliefs. Experts noted that a pivotal moment in his radicalization occurred in early 2021, coinciding with his increasing engagement with American conspiracy theorist Donald Day Jr. This connection reinforced Train's extremist views, as he found validation for his beliefs in discussions about the imminent return of Christ. The trio's online activities further illustrated their dangerous convictions, as they posted numerous videos urging others to join their cause. They even attempted to involve their children in their apocalyptic vision. The court heard that they anticipated the second coming of Christ to occur around April or May 2023, a belief they linked to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which they interpreted as a sign of impending end times. The inquest continues to explore the implications of these radical beliefs on the tragic events that unfolded.