Fish shop accused to know his plaice

A GOLD Coast man accused of twice attempting to blow up the fish and chip shop he formerly operated will learn his fate in the Tweed Heads Local Court today.

Magistrate Lisa Stapleton reserved her decision in the case against Joseph Palermo, who pleaded not guilty to two charges of dishonesty for financial gain and damaging property by fire.

The 40-year-old Pacific Pines man, who had been operating Menniti Seafood in Tweed Heads but was evicted in 2013, has been accused of attempting to blow up the shop on January 7 and 11 in 2014.

The accused’s DNA was found on an Aldi shopping bag which contained a homemade explosive device after a stolen vehicle – which the accused had access to – was crashed into the shop on January 11, the court heard.

Police also located images of “sparkler bombs” and bombmaking instructions on devices seized from the accused’s home after the alleged incidents, along with “surveillance-like” photos showing the outside the shop.

In his closing submission before Tweed Heads Local Court yesterday, defence solicitor Carl Edwards argued there was “no evidence” his client stood to gain anything from destroying the building.

In summing up his argument, prosecutor Gary Rowe alleged Palermo was under the impression he could benefit from destroying the property, either through insurance avenues or by expediting an ongoing civil case between Palermo Seafood Pty Ltd and Mr Menniti’s company, Lunapas Pty Ltd.

Mr Rowe said the incidents allegedly came about because of the financial pressure being felt by the accused, who owed Mr Menniti some $58,000 in unpaid rent before being evicted.

“What this shows is a desperate person … under significant financial pain (who) got himself involved in this act to try to expedite his way out of it,” Mr Rowe said.

Ms Stapleton will hand down her verdict before Tweed Heads Local Court today.