An alleged triple murderer was granted bail over domestic violence-related charges because he hasn’t committed a violent offence within the last five years, police say.
Julian Ingram, 37, appeared in Lake Cargelligo Local Court in December over DV-related offences allegedly committed against his ex-girlfriend Sophie Quinn, 25.
He had pleaded not guilty to assaulting Sophie, stalking and intimidating her, and destroying her property, and was released into the community on the promise that he would not go within 100m of her home or workplace.
On Thursday, just weeks after he was granted bail, Ingram allegedly gunned Sophie down in a black Suzuki hatchback, alongside her new boyfriend John Harris, 32.
He then allegedly went to another residence and killed her aunt Nerida Quinn, 50, and seriously injured 19‑year‑old Kaleb MacQueen.
Ingram has been on the run since the alleged murders, with about 100 cops searching for him in the surrounding areas.
On Friday afternoon, Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland answered questions about his bail status during a conference about the alleged triple murders.
When a reporter asked why Ingram was granted bail, he replied: ‘A risk assessment would have been done at the time.
Police on Friday released a photo of Julian Ingram, who is wanted on an outstanding warrant for murder.
Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland revealed Ingram was released on bail following DV allegations during a press conference (pictured)
‘At that time, he he had not committed a violent offence in the last five years and, therefore, deemed fit.’
‘Where we can, we obviously grant people bail. We don’t want to keep them in custody. With strict bail conditions and AVO in place, it deemed suitable.’
Court records show Ingram pleaded guilty to assaulting another woman in Griffith in 2021, less than years ago.
During the press conference, Assistant Commissioner Holland confirmed the last sightings of Ingram were just outside the small town.
Asked whether Sophie’s other family members should fear for their lives, he said there were police ‘almost in every corner of Lake Cargelligo’ and that squads were trying to locate him as quickly as possible.
Ingram allegedly fled in a council-owned car, which does not have a GPS.
He also said Ingram has never held a gun licence.
‘We are still using that as part of our investigation,’ he said.
Mum-to-be Sophie Quinn, 25, was allegedly murdered by Julius Ingram on Thursday
John Harris, 32, was also allegedly killed in the shooting, Sophie’s new boyfriend
‘We will check on that where he had access to the firearms.’
Local woman Letitia Bardawil heard four gunshots on Thursday, but she thought it was fireworks of a car backfiring until children playing in a nearby pool started running and covering their heads.
She then started walking towards the scene and saw a black Suzuki with bullet holes on the curb, and people doing CPR.
‘They told me what happened and I said I’m sorry, I don’t know what to say and I hugged them,’ she told the Daily Telegraph.
‘And that moment is actually when, I think, their families arrived in a car and they fell to the ground and they were crying.’
She said described the scene as the worst thing she had ever seen.
‘And it was honestly one of the worst things I’ve ever seen, just seeing them like that.’
She told the publication that she was scared because Ingram was still on the run.
Pictured: NSW police specialists outside the police station in Lake Cargelligo on Friday
The couple were allegedly shot inside a black Suzuki hatchback on Friday (pictured)
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.
On Friday morning, Ms Quinn’s sister Tegan wrote a heartfelt tribute for her family members.
‘My sister and best friend,’ she wrote on social media, alongside photos of the family.
‘My aunty,’ she wrote, alongside a photo of Nerida.
Specialist police personnel have been flown into the town by PolAir and the Defence Force, including the tactical operations unit, negotiators, and homicide investigators.
Anyone who sees Ingram is urged to contact CrimeStoppers.
