A top criminal psychologist has claimed the manhunt for an alleged triple murderer is likely to end in a shootout with cops rather than the accused killer surrendering.
Julian Ingram, 37, remains at large after allegedly shooting dead his ex-partner Sophie Quinn, 25, her boyfriend John Harris, 32, and her aunt Nerida Quinn, 50, and wounding Kaleb McQueen, 19, at Lake Cargelligo, in regional NSW, on January 22.
Criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro labelled Ingram a ‘narcissistic psychopath’ and claimed the alleged gunman would not go quietly if he was caught.
‘He doesn’t want to go to jail, and if he is caught and convicted, he’s facing a very long time in prison for killing four people, if you include a foetus, which I do, and trying to kill a fifth,’ he told news.com.au.
‘That is a very strong motivator for people like him, and he will evade detection for as long as possible.
‘Suicide by cop if confronted by police, then he’d become the Ned Kelly of the west in his mind.’
Ms Quinn, who separated from Ingram last year and was in a relationship with Mr Harris at the time of her death, was due to give birth in March to a baby boy.
Mr Watson-Munro, who has spent more than four decades dealing with notorious criminals, said Ingram may have a fragile ego, but still felt a sense of ownership over his ex-partner.
Police released CCTV footage of Julian Ingram attending a police station hours before the alleged murders
Criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro fears Ingram will prefer a shootout with police rather than handing himself in
Special Forces personnel have been seen in the hunt for Ingram
‘I think it was a sense of entitlement that he owned his ex-partner. I think that’s what was driving him. To him it’s like someone stole his car,’ he said.
On Wednesday, a resident in Lake Cargelligo claimed DNA test results showing Ingram was not the father of Ms Quinn’s baby could have triggered his alleged spree.
Mr Harris’ cousin, Derek, told the Daily Mail days earlier it was unclear who the biological father of Ms Quinn’s unborn baby was.
Mr Watson-Munro claimed Ingram had planned the alleged killings.
He thinks the fact Ms Quinn had moved on from Ingram had a greater impact on his actions than the question of whose baby she was carrying.
‘It’s not a crime of passion, it’s a crime of control and rage,’ Mr Watson-Munro said.
‘The most dangerous time for women is when they signal they are going to leave or when they do leave a relationship. It’s about control and anger.’
Police haven’t ruled out the theory that Ingram could be receiving assistance as he remains on the run in the scorching heatwave that’s gripping inland Australia.
One of Ingram’s alleged victims was his ex-partner Sophie Quinn
Ms Quinn’s new boyfriend John Harris was also allegedly gunned down
Julian Ingram, who is wanted on an outstanding warrant for murder, allegedly discovered he was not the father of Ms Quinn’s baby a week earlier
The remote search area for Ingram at Mount Hope, northwest of Lake Cargelligo
‘It is possible he is seeking help from people he knows, and we’re making contact with known associates, trying to cut down those possibilities,’ Western Region Commander Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland said last weekend.
Mr Watson-Munro agreed with Assistant Commissioner Holland and added that Ingram would ‘likely fight’ if confronted by police or members of the public.
‘Who knows what’s floating through his mind, none of it would be rational, which is why it is so important that if he is spotted, people should not approach him, they should contact police,’ he said.
‘They will do everything they can to resist getting caught for as long as they can, that may even mean taking hostages.’
Ingram is described as between 165cm and 170cm tall, with a medium build, short dark hair and brown eyes.
He was last seen driving a Ford Ranger utility with NSW registration DM-07-GZ, which has council signage, a metal tray back, high-visibility side markings and an emergency light bar on the roof.
Police haven’t ruled out the possibility that Ingram may have since switched vehicles.
