Instructor’s gun charges

A WEAPONS instructor who lived at the Gold Coast Pistol Club allegedly made a handgun and offered to sell a shortened firearm.

Troy Desmond Harper, who lived at the Ashmore gun club, has been charged with manufacturing a weapons, unlawfully supplied a weapon, possessing explosive and using another identification details.

The 48-year-old is the son of the former caretaker Kate Harper, who lives at the Gold Coast Pistol Club on Edmund

Rice Dr, Ashmore. Both Kate and Troy Harper had their membership terminated by the club in 2021.

There was no suggestion Kate Harper was involved with the alleged offences.

Troy Harper was granted bail when he appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Monday.

Police allege Harper 3D printed part of a handgun at some point between October 6 and November 4.

Between the same dates he is alleged to have offered to supply a shortened firearm to an unnamed person. The sale never took place, it is alleged.

To sell firearms in Queensland a person must be a registered armourer. Police allege Harper did not have an armourer’s licence.

He also allegedly had in his possession ammunition and another person’s identity details.

Police raided his home at the pistol club last week where they allegedly found evidence.

It is not clear if Harper had any connection to the club except for living at the premises with his mother.

Magistrate Dzenita Balic granted bail with strict conditions including that he live at a Nerang home, report to police twice a week, not go within 200 metres of the Gold Coast Pistol Club, he not apply for a weapons licence and he only possess one mobile telephone.

“To my mind, the nature and seriousness of the offence and seriousness of them I would not grant bail,” Magistrate Balic noted on the file.

“However, his antecedents is such, and the structure of the conditions, that I do consider bail should be granted with the strict conditions.”

Harper’s lawyer Demi Quadrio, of Gatenby Criminal Lawyers, said her client would be contesting the charges. The court file listed Harper’s occupation as “weapons instructor”.

Gold Coast Pistol Club issued a statement from the management committee on Friday, which said it was aware of the search at the home of their former employee, Kate Harper.

“Ms Harper, who is in dispute with the Club over her continuing tenancy, had allowed her son Troy to reside with her as an unauthorised tenant,” the statement said.

“The Club has been advised by police that evidence was seized and that Troy Harper has been charged with serious firearms-related offences.

“The Club was further advised that Mr Harper has been granted conditional bail that he not attend within 200 metres of the Club.

“Both Troy Harper and Kate Harper’s membership of the Gold Coast Pistol Club were terminated in 2021.”

The case is expected to go back to court on November 29.