Man tells of gun threats

Shot fired next to knee over missing drugs, court told

A WHITTINGTON man was refused bail yesterday after being accused of standing over his partner’s cousin, and threatening to shoot the man in the knee.

The Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard the alleged victim has told police Seifu Schuster confronted him at his Newcomb home on three occasions last month and this month.

On the first time it is alleged Mr Schuster left 1.7g of methylamphetamine at the man’s home, asking him to sell it. Police claim he returned a couple of days later and threatened to shoot the man in the knee because the drugs were gone but had not been sold.

Detective Senior Constable Purdie Long said the alleged victim then woke to a knock at his door at 1am on July 5, and was struck in the face with a revolver by Mr Schuster when he opened the door.

Forced into his lounge room, the man allegedly had the gun pointed at his knee and a bullet fired into the floor near his feet by the accused.

Sen-Constable Long said the man told police Mr Schuster found prescription medication in his home and forced him to swallow about 20 blood pressure tablets and half a bot- tle of anti-depressants, making him dizzy.

In his statement, the victim said Mr Schuster, 35, then drove him to the Geelong hospital emergency department and forced him to go inside to collect syringes, before injecting heroin and passing out.

The court heard the alleged victim then ran to the hospital where he called a taxi, later calling police.

Mr Schuster was arrested two days later, but refused to be interviewed about the allegations.

In yesterday’s bail application, his lawyer, Wayne Toohey, told court his client denied most of the claims, and the case against him was based on the word of the alleged victim.

However, Sen-Constable Long said police had corroborative evidence, including CCTV footage from the hospital, and a bullet found at the Newcomb house.

Magistrate Michael Coghlan was also told of his extensive criminal history.

Mr Coghlan said the 16 charges Mr Schuster faced were serious, and included counts of aggravated burglary with a firearm, armed robbery, false imprisonment and reckless conduct endangering life.

He refused bail, ordering Mr Schuster return to court in October.