American linked to Queensland police shootings offered plea deal

An American accused of links to the family that shot dead two Australian police officers has been offered a plea deal by US federal prosecutors.

Donald Day Jr, 58, was arrested in December 2023 by the FBI in Arizona on two counts of “interstate threats”, 12 months after the shootings in rural Wieambilla, west of Brisbane.

He was later charged with illegal possession of firearms, including three military-style rifles, handguns, a sawed-off shotgun and a large stash of ammunition, as well as threatening FBI agents. during his arrest.

Prosecutor Gary Restaino last week asked for more time for pretrial motions because they made an undisclosed offer to Day in exchange for a plea, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Arizona .

“A plea offer has been extended and the deadline for acceptance is May 17, 2024,” Restaino said.

The U.S. Department of Justice says on its website that prosecutors could enter into a plea bargain with defendants if they were willing to plead guilty in court.

“When the government has a strong case, it may offer the defendant a plea deal to avoid a trial and perhaps reduce his or her risk of a longer sentence,” the department says.

In January 2024, Queensland Police began providing confidential evidence to the FBI relating to the murder of the two officers and a Wieambilla resident.

Officers Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow were shot dead in cold blood by Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train after officers arrived at the Wieambilla property.

Neighbor Alan Dare was also shot dead before Trains was killed in a shootout with specialist police later that night.

Between May 2021 and December 2022, Day, of Heber, Arizona, is accused of repeatedly sending messages about an “end-times Christian ideology” known as premillennialism to Trains.

Last week, U.S. District Court Judge John Tuchi granted an order extending Day’s pretrial motions.

“This Court finds that an extension of the pretrial motion deadline will provide time for plea negotiations and should not interfere with the upcoming trial date,” Judge Tuchi said.

The start date for Day’s trial was set for June 4, but that timeline was previously extended.