Witness tells of lead-up to shooting

AN eyewitness to the shooting of an 11-year-old girl in Deloraine last year heard the words “rape, daughter and paedophile” come from a car shortly before he heard a crack.

William Mills, of Stagg Court, gave evidence in preliminary proceedings in the Launceston Magistrates Court yesterday.

Nathan Richard Campbell, 25, of Stagg Court, has pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and recklessly discharging a firearm in August 2017.

Phoenix Newitt, who was in the back seat of her uncle’s car, was struck by a bullet allegedly fired from a .22 Magnum calibre Norinco bolt action repeating rifle by Mr Campbell.

Mr Mills said that about 8.40pm on the night of the shooting he had seen Zac Newitt get out of his car, walk 10-15 paces and throw something at a house in Stagg Court. He said he heard a smashing sound.

“I said to my partner ‘ there will be trouble here tonight’,” he told defence counsel Evan Hughes in cross examination.

Mr Mills said that some time later the car had returned and he had recognised the voice of Sarah Newitt.

“I had arguments with her before and been abused by her before,” he said when asked how he recognised her voice.

“I heard swearing and the words rape, daughter and paedophile have stuck in my mind.”

Mr Mills said that he heard a bang from what he believed was a low-calibre rifle and went back inside.

Tasmania Police ballistics expert Stephen Denholm said testing of the seized rifle revealed it had a tendency to shoot to the left of where aimed and that it had a loose telescope. Mr Campbell was bailed to reappear in the Supreme Court in Launceston on June 12 at 10.45am.