A stuntman and former Ninja Warrior contestant shot and killed while filming a music video died from “criminal actions” and his death could have been prevented, a coroner has found.
Gold Coast man Johann Ofner died from fatal gunshot injuries after a sawn-off shotgun loaded with blank cartridges was fired into his chest at Brisbane’s Brooklyn Standard bar on January 23, 2017.
At the time, he was working as a stunt performer on the set of a music video for the band Bliss N Eso being filmed at the Eagle Lane bar.
In his findings, delivered on Tuesday, coroner Donald MacKenzie said the gunshot wounds to Mr Ofner’s chest caused heart failure.
“Transmitted force, rather than penetration of the projectile, caused the shot,” Mr MacKenzie said.
During last year’s inquest, the court was told several other replica handguns and a submachine gun were to be used on the set of the video, along with the shotgun.
No test fires were carried out on the shotgun on the day of filming and the weapon’s shells had been illegally obtained.
Mr Ofner was fitted with a “jerk vest” that would pull him back and simulate the impact of the gun’s blast when it was fired by fellow stuntman Shinji Ikefuji.
It was not suggested in teh findings that Mr Ikefuji engaged in any wrongdoing.
Licensed armourer Warren Ritchie supplied the shotgun in question but Mr MacKenzie said it was “not permitted” for use in theatricalxjmtzyw productions.
Mr MacKenzie said the “homemade” shells loaded into the weapon were “effectively a projectile” as they contained ignition powder, cloth wadding and a plastic casing.
He said the other replica firearms had mechanisms that prevented the firing of any projectiles but the shotgun had none of these.
Mr MacKenzie savaged the shortcomings in the safety and training on the set as there had been no firearm safety briefings, test firing to establish safe distances and failing to realise the aiming difficulties when the shotgun was fired from Mr Ikefuji’s hip.
In addition, no site and safety controller had been appointed and there was no consideration on safer procedures like “computer enhancement or using inoperable firearms”.
“The critical lesson from this tragedy is that Mr Ofner died because of criminal actions, his death was avoidable,” Mr MacKenzie said, in respect of the actions of Mr Ritchie.
“All weapons supplied under Mr Ritchie’s Theatrical Ordinance Supplier licence must have been blank fire or permanently inoperable.
“Clearly, the shortened shotgun which killed the deceased was neither (and) the use of a plastic wad in the shot shell created a secondary projectile and could not be blank-fire ammunition.”
The court was told Mr Ritchie could have faced a criminal charge of manslaughter but he died in August 2017.
Adam Corless, a firearms store employee who supplied Mr Ritchie with the blank cartridges, was fined after pleading guilty to manufacturing explosives without authority and the unauthorised sale of explosives.
He was sentenced in the Brisbane Magistrates Court.
Mr MacKenzie made several recommendations to the Queensland government, including reviewing their Weapons Acts and creating a code of practice for armourers on the use of firearms in the film industry.
“It is evident that what occurred on 23 January 2017 can only be described as an accumulation of errors that resulted in tragedy,” he said.
“Given the grave consequences for any theatrical armourer in Queensland, should he or she repeat Mr Ritchie’s recklessness, it is hoped that this tragic death and its attendant publicity will act as a paragon of deterrence.”
