In March 1993 murderers Leonard Leabeater, Robert Steele and Raymond Bassett went on a nine-day rampage across Queensland and New South Wales, resulting in their taking hostages in a siege in a farmhouse at Hanging Rock Station, Cangai, near Grafton, New South Wales, and threatening to kill people indiscriminately.
[3] During the 26-hour siege, numerous shots were fired by the trio at NSW Police Tactical Operations Unit officers.
This was not the case as District Court Judge B.R Gallen determined during a trial in which the helicopter pilot was defending the charge of flying in a dangerous manner.
In addressing the court and the 12 person jury, Judge Gallen questioned: "Whether you could accept the evidence given by the police officers."
In respect of the police officers, Judge Gallen said: "you would not have been impressed by the way they were evasive and the way in which they appeared to be ill at ease and particularly so the Senior Constable Lestor who was the pilot".