A stuntman fatally shot during the filming of a music clip in a Brisbane bar died due to the armourer supplying an illegal weapon and ammunition, a coroner has found.
Gold Coast father Johann Ofner, a 28-year-old professional actor and stunt performer, died after being shot with a blank shotgun round at Brisbane basement bar Brooklyn Standard Bar.
The incident happened during the filming of a music video for Australian hip-hop trio Bliss n Eso's track Friend Like You in 2017.
Coroner Donald MacKenzie described the death as a tragedy that was avoidable.
He said armourer Warren Ritchie, who supplied the sawn-off double-barrelled shotgun and the ammunition responsible for the fatal shooting, had since died of natural causes.
But he said had Mr Ritchie been alive, he would have faced a range of charges including manslaughter, unlawful possession of a hand gun, and a breach of workplace health and safety causing death.
He found Mr Ritchie had supplied an operable shotgun that was "not permitted for theatrical productions".
Mr MacKenzie said Mr Ritchie had also illegally obtained "homemade" shotgun shells which did not contain steel projectiles but still had ignition powder, cloth wadding and a plastic casing.
This meant the shells could still be considered to contain a projectile, according to Mr MacKenzie.
Wound caused heart failure, coroner says
The shooting took place during a scene based around a poker game, which involved Mr Ofner being shot in the chest with the shotgun by another actor from close range.
Mr MacKenzie said after the scene was filmed, Mr Ofner was found lying on his back with two wounds and minimal blood on his chest.
Despite CPR being commenced on Mr Ofner and an ambulance called, Mr Ofner died as a result of what was classified as "a gunshot wound to the chest" causing heart failure, Mr MacKenzie said.
He said the heart failure was caused by transmitted force, not the penetration of the projectile.
The issues considered at the inquest did not involve a review of what had taken place or who was to blame, but rather how a similar tragedy could be prevented in the future.
Mr MacKenzie identified five failures that led to the death, including not undertaking a firearm safety briefing, not testing the firearm to establish safe distances, failing to consider more costly and safer production options, and not realising there were aiming difficulties associated with firing from the hip.
No charges laid
He said the police had not charged those associated with producing the clip or coordinating the scene due to the failings on the part of Mr Ritchie.
Mr McKenzie made three recommendations.
They include: the Queensland government review the laws around weapons relating to blank fire munitions and police reviewing the role of theatrical armourers, with a focus on introducing standards for qualification, including training and testing.
He also recommended the Office of Industrial Relations create a code of practice for armourers and the Queensland Police Minister liaise with interstate counterparts to ensure a consistent Australia-wide legislative code for theatrical armourers, outlawing the use of operable firearms and non-blank firing weapons in theatrical performances.
