March 4, 2016
More than a year after a siege in Kingaroy which tied up police resources, firefighters and Ergon Energy staff for almost 24 hours, the man responsible has been sentenced to jail.
Justin Brian McMahon pleaded guilty in the District Court in Kingaroy this week to four counts of serious assault to police (threatening violence).
The court was told five children were inside the house when the incident began about 10:00pm on January 15, 2015, but all managed to escape.
At one point, McMahon threatened to kill himself with a knife.
He then told police he had released gas and would blow the house up.
An emergency situation was declared under the Public Safety Preservation Act at 3:40am, closing parts of First Avenue, Thorn, Haly and Alford streets.
A Special Emergency Response Team squad and Bearcat vehicle were despatched from Brisbane as well as special police negotiators.
McMahon finally surrendered to police about 9:00pm.
Judge Fleur Kingham sentenced McMahon to two years’ jail. He will be eligible for parole in six months.
