Gel blasters fined Prosecutor slams duo for attack on homeless
THE men who shot gel pellets at homeless people using replica weapons in a drive-by shooting, did so because they believed their victims had damaged their car by throwing bricks or rocks at it, a court has heard.
Hayden Mark Ede, 25, and Andrew John Brennan, 22, were each fined $1500 in Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday, each charged with one count of common assault and one count of dangerous conduct of a weapon. Convictions were not recorded
The court heard on December 3, 2018, about 8.50pm, Ede and Brennan drove up to the kerb beside some homeless people who were in front of an abandoned building adjacent to Dean Park in South Townsville and shot at them using a Scar Gel Blaster gun through an open window.
A woman was shot in the chest and later developed bruising, and a man was hit on the shoulder.
The group of people flagged down nearby police who were patrolling the area and made a complaint.
The police then pulled over the men in their car and seized the weapon from the front passenger seat as well as gel balls, which served as ammunition for the gel blasters.
Police prosecutor Liam Wise described the attack as “reckless” and “immature” on some of the “most vulnerable” in the community.
Representing both Ede and Brennan, defence lawyer Mathai Joshi told the court his clients were driving to get food when rocks or bricks were thrown at the car, causing damage on the lefthand side.
Mr Joshi said they then returned to get back at the people they believed responsible, and were remorseful for their actions.
Magistrate Steven Mosch accepted character references submitted on behalf of the men, describing them as kind and hardworking, but said their actions were “foolish”.
“It’s fair to say that your conduct was somewhat immature and certainly irresponsible even as reaction to these people … there may been some degree of entertainment for you extracting retribution by way of shooting these gel blasters,” Mr Mosch said.
The forfeiture of the gel blasters was ordered.