Long-time partner of policewoman left in a coma after being shot in the neck by a big game hunter reveals their four children have no idea how badly she's been injured
- Eric Newman was a big game trophy hunter who retired 10 years ago
- Photos show him and his wife Lesley posing with pics of animals they've hunted
- Newman shot Sgt Mark Johnston and Senior Constable Helen McMurtrie
- Officers responded to a domestic incident on Friday night in Glen Innes, NSW
- A 74-year-old trophy hunter shot the officers in the face and throat with a rifle
- He then turned the gun on himself before officers were airlifted to hospital
Four young children have no idea their policewoman mother was shot in the neck while responding to a domestic violence incident.
Senior Constable Helen McMurtrie was gunned down alongside Sergeant Mark Johnston by a dead-eyed gunman as they approached his home.
Big game hunter Eric Newman, 74, had tried to strangle his wife Lesley, 59, inside their home in Glen Innes, NSW, about 9.50pm on Friday.
Senior Constable Helen McMurtrie (left) was shot in the neck on the job and her long-term boyfriend Garry Huard (right) hasn't told their kids yet
Senior Constable Helen McMurtrie was gunned down alongside Sergeant Mark Johnston by a dead-eyed gunman as they approached his home
Senior Constable McMurtrie had six bullet fragments extracted from her neck at Gold Coast Hospital and was placed in an induced coma.
Her long-term boyfriend Garry Huard, a former police officer, said she is very lucky to have survived and be talking, considering where she was shot.
'Despite what has happened we are pretty thankful at this stage we might not have too many long lasting injuries to get over,' he told the Daily Telegraph.
'Obviously when you have six or seven fragments of bullet thrown around inside your throat there is going to be some damage, it's just a matter of how much.'
Mr Huard has gone to great lengths to keep their six-year-old twins and two foster children aged 12 and 9 in the dark about her injuries.
A policeman for 28 years before leaving the force two years ago, Mr Huard said the call he got just after putting the kids to bed was one he 'always dreaded'
Senior Constable McMurtrie had six bullet fragments extracted from her neck at Gold Coast Hospital and was placed in an induced coma
He said he kept them away from news reports of the shooting and social media, telling them only that she was injured at work.
A policeman for 28 years before leaving the force two years ago, Mr Huard said he received the call he's 'always dreaded' moments after putting the kids to bed.
'I was told initially that she had been subjected to a shot to the head and obviously you prepare for the worse when you hear that kind of news,' he said.
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The two officers arrived at Newman's house about 10.50pm and approached the house with their guns drawn.
Newman fired one shot from the balcony with his 303 centerfire rifle, hitting Senior Constable McMurtrie and spraying her partner's face with shrapnel.
Rookie cop Samantha Petty, with just a few weeks on the job, dashed over to her fallen colleagues and dragged Senior Constable McMurtrie to safety.
Eric Newman (right) and his wife Lesley (left). Newman shot two police officers before killing himself, police say
Ms Newman (centre) and her sister Kim Blythe (right) stand with other family as they recall what happened the night Newman shot two police and then himself
Newman went inside the house and another gunshot was heard. He was found dead of a self-inflicted wound soon after.
His wife, Lesley, claimed he began throttling her without warning as she was getting ready for bed.
'I was ready for bed and I don't know what happened, I just don't know what happened,' she told reporters on Sunday.
The 59-year-old broke free and told her disabled daughter to call triple-0 before the pair fled the house.
A neighbour said the pair were big game hunters who had been on several trips to Africa and had several animal skins in their house
Several other photos show the pair's house decorated with animal trophies including a zebra skin, a stuffed bear and animal heads
Ms Newman's sister Kim Blythe, who lives nearby, soon arrived and tried to reason with Newman as he stood on his balcony.
However, she realised he was holding a rifle while staring into space 'like there was nothing there' and retreated as paramedics treated her sister.
'Two hours before we were talking, we were laughing, everything was normal,' Ms Blythe said on Sunday.
'We don't know what has caused it, its just unbelievable. We don't know what the best thing is.
'We understand now, people who have been through it before, what's the reason why? We just don't know.'
Police believe Newman, who retired from trophy hunting 10 years ago, pointed his rifle at the officers before turning it on himself
Ms Newman broke free and told her disabled daughter (pictured centre with her parents) to call triple-0 before the pair fled the house
'I thank everyone for being supportive and being there for us. I have been praying for [the officers] all the time and I thank god,' Ms Newman said.
Both officers were flown to Gold Coast Hospital, where they remained on Sunday.
Senior Constable McMurtrie was placed in a coma due to swelling in her neck and may require further surgery. She is in a serious but stable condition.
Sergeant Johnston had surgery to remove the bullet fragments and was released. He is about to celebrate the birth of his sixth child.
Sergeant Mark Johnston (pictured) and his partner Senior Constable Helen McMurtrie were shot while attending a domestic incident in Glen Innes, northern New South Wales
Sergeant Mark Johnston (with his wife) was airlifted to hospital after he was targeted with a rifle in Glen Innes, northern New South Wales
A neighbour told the Daily Telegraph Newman and his wife were big game hunters who had been on several trips to Africa and had several animal skins in their house.
'He was a keen trophy hunter and had a lot of taxidermy in his house — giraffes, bears, you name it,' the neighbour said.
A photo shared by Lesley on her personal Facebook page shows the pair with a giraffe they had just killed. A rifle can be seen nearby.
Several other photos show the pair's house decorated with animal trophies including a zebra skin, a stuffed bear and animal heads.
Friends of the couple estimate they have 20 to 30 guns in their home.
'He was a keen trophy hunter and had a lot of taxidermy in his house — giraffes, bears, you name it,' the neighbour said
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