Court Documents Expose Past Threats by Alleged Triple Murder Suspect Julian Ingram
Julian Ingram, the man accused of murdering three people in Lake Cargelligo last month, made violent threats against a former partner a decade earlier, according to court documents obtained by Guardian Australia. Ingram, also known as Julian Pierpoint, allegedly shot dead his pregnant former partner Sophie Quinn, her new boyfriend, and her aunt in the small New South Wales town, about 450 kilometers west of Sydney, sparking a large-scale manhunt for the 37-year-old.
History of Domestic Violence and Threats
In 2016, Ingram pleaded guilty to two counts of domestic violence-related offences for threatening a woman he was in a four-year de facto relationship with, referred to pseudonymously as Tessa. Court documents reveal that Ingram accused Tessa of being intimate with a handyman repairing her house, which had damage from previous unreported domestic violence incidents. He stated, "He wont be fixing it for much longer. I have a gun and a hole for him. I will do you and him in." A month later, he breached an apprehended violence order (AVO) granted to protect Tessa, leading to additional charges.
Ingram was initially sentenced to eight months in prison for stalking or intimidating with intent to cause fear or physical harm and for breaching the AVO. However, he successfully appealed the sentence in 2017, resulting in a reduction to 300 hours of community service. Notably, no order was made for him to attend a behavioral program as part of his original sentence or appeal.
Police Bail Decisions Under Scrutiny
Police are facing intense scrutiny over their decision to grant Ingram bail for allegedly assaulting Sophie Quinn just two months before the alleged murders. Authorities have defended this move, stating that a risk assessment found he did not pose an unacceptable risk and that Ingram had previously complied with court orders. However, court documents paint a troubling picture of his behavior.
Tessa ended her relationship with Ingram in 2015 after an ADVO was issued against him for assault. The documents describe Ingram as "always of a jealous and controlling nature," with Tessa too scared to develop new relationships due to fears of harm to herself, her children, and others. In early 2016, Ingram made dozens of threatening calls to Tessa, including death threats against her, her children, and her mother, and even threatened to burn her house.
Pattern of Violence and Legal Consequences
When Tessa answered a call and mentioned getting an AVO, Ingram responded, "Do you think an AVO is going to keep yous all safe. Do you really want to play this game. I hope you are ready to play." He was arrested and charged, but later breached the AVO by approaching her house, causing her to call emergency services in terror. Despite his initial prison sentence, the appeal reduced it to community service.
Since 2014, Ingram has had six AVOs issued against him relating to five different people, including two for Tessa and one for Quinn. In November last year, police granted him bail for domestic violence-related charges, requiring him to report daily to Lake Cargelligo police station and abide by the AVO. He had pleaded not guilty to charges including stalking, common assault, and property damage.
Broader Investigation and Past Convictions
Earlier this month, police announced that Ingram's "full domestic violence history" and access to firearms would be examined as part of a critical incident investigation overseen by the police watchdog. This forms part of a broader probe into how police handled the murder investigation. In 2022, Ingram was convicted of grabbing a family member by the throat after a dispute, receiving an 18-month community corrections order. He told police it was "a bit of a family feud, I took it too far."
The case highlights ongoing concerns about domestic violence and legal responses in New South Wales, with the effects of the Lake Cargelligo shootings expected to echo through generations in the small community.
