Emergency service vehicles were at the Travers Street location for several hours on 7 October 2022. Photo: Shri Gayathirie Rajen.
The man at the centre of the infamous 17-hour Travers Street police siege in October 2022 will remain behind bars until at least early 2026, after being sentenced for multiple offences.
Marcus Collins, 31, pled guilty to four charges: breaking and entering and committing a serious indictable offence; stealing a firearm; using an offensive weapon to avoid apprehension; and possessing a shortened firearm.
He was sentenced to four years and six months jail, with a non-parole period of two years and 10 months. The non-parole period commenced on 7 April 2023 and will expire on 6 February 2026, on which date Judge Gordon Lerve recommended he be released.
Judge Lerve’s published sentencing decision revealed details of threats Collins made to police who surrounded him while he was inside the Travers Street unit with a bolt action rifle.
He shouted phrases like: “I’ve got 1000 rounds and I’m ready for war” and “You f**** come inside and I’ll f****** shoot you c***” at officers.
Three days before the siege began, Collins and another man broke into a property in Moorong, near Wagga, where a married couple aged in their 80s resided. The couple were asleep and unaware the men had entered their house, but later discovered their Toyota Camry, jewellery, other valuables, firearms and ammunition missing. The published decision stated Collins knew the couple as he worked on their farm back in 2007.
The couple reported the break-in to police, who undertook a forensic examination that found DNA profile matching Collins on the internal compartment lip of the gun safe within the house.
Just after 4 pm on 6 October 2022, police attended Collins’ known address on Travers Street, knowing that he may be in possession of a firearm. Upon arriving at the location, police surrounded the premises as other officers approached the front door.
Senior Constable Giddings knocked on the door and called out: “Police, come to the door” at which point Collins threatened to shoot them.
Police retreated from the location and moved to an area within a safe distance of the offender’s residence and established a perimeter.
At about 6 pm, police negotiators arrived and tried to convince the offender to leave the unit. He responded with words to the effect: “I have court tomorrow, not today. The warrants are lies, you guys are here to kill me”.
Negotiators continued attempts to speak to Collins and calm him down for several hours, without success.
At 9:20 the following morning, Collins told police he had a large wound from breaking glass and could not control the bleeding. He put his hand through the window to show police. At that point, the Tactical Operations Unit personnel used force to enter the premises, apprehended Collins and arrested him. He was taken to Wagga Base Hospital for treatment and then placed in custody, where he remains.
Police then searched the unit and found the jewellery and a bolt action rifle stolen from the Moorong property. Collins’ fingerprints were found on the firearm and DNA was found on the bolt handle, barrel, trigger guard and adjustment strap of the firearm.
“The offender used an operable firearm to keep police at bay for the better part of 17 hours,” Judge Lerve said in his published decision.
“The weapon was pointed in the direction of the police. Negotiators were engaged. Considerable community and police resources were employed. In all of the circumstances … the matter is slightly above the mid-range of seriousness.”
In the court proceedings, Collins expressed remorse for his actions. A psychiatrist said he had a history of mental illness, drug addiction and childhood trauma. Collins said he was sexually abused at the age of four.
“I am satisfied that the mental health conditions mean that the impact of general and specific deterrence are reduced. The moral culpability of the offender is also reduced,” Judge Lerve said.
“Given the criminal history of the offender and what appear to be unresolved mental health issues, I am unable to find on balance that the offender is unlikely to re-offend.”
Judge Lerve recommended that Collins be released on parole on 6 February 2026, at which time he is to be supervised by the Department of Community Corrections and obey all reasonable directions of that service relating to ongoing treatment and counselling for mental health issues and substance abuse issues.
