Shots ‘sequence’ possibility raised
A sequence of shots that struck Bradley Alan Lomax – from the account by the murder-accused – has been accepted as ‘‘possible’’ by a pathologist.
According Cody Derek Martin’s description given to police, he first shot Lomax in the leg with a shotgun at a gravel road along the Waimakariri Riverbed, near Harrs Rd, on September 4, 2017.
He said co-accused Kasha William Gosset then shot Lomax several times in the head with a .22 rifle, and then took the shotgun and shot him in the arm and chest. Gosset then shot him in both eyes with the shotgun.
During cross-examination at the High Court trial yesterday by Martin’s defence counsel, Kerryn Beaton, Sage said that sequence of shots in a short time was ‘‘possible’’, but he added: ‘‘If he was shot first in the leg, I am surprised at how little bleeding there was from that wound.’’
Gosset, 37, of Oxford, and Martin, a 31-year-old drainlayer from Mairehau, both deny the joint charges of murdering Lomax. They blame each other for Lomax’s killing.
Sage said Lomax was hit by shotgun blasts to the thigh, breaking his thigh bone, his upper arm, which sent pellets into his chest striking his lung and heart, and blasts to each eye socket.
In his evidence-in-chief on Monday, Sage was questioned about a defence pathologist’s evidence of another .22 calibre wound to the face, with remains of the bullet near the jaw, and another bullet found in the hoodie of Lomax’s jacket. He said it was possible this was another round that had struck Lomax and then been dislodged by the shotgun blast.
Yesterday, Beaton asked him about a scientist’s report of a .22 round with traces of blood and tissue found close to the body.
Sage acknowledged it was possible Lomax had been struck with at least two .22 rounds and possibly more. The Crown is calling evidence from 37 witnesses in the trial, which is in its second week before Justice Cameron Mander and a jury in the High Court at Christchurch. A small Canterbury town’s flash new gastro-pub and brewery complex wants help to combat repeated vandalism and thefts.
The Port and Eagle Brewpub in Kaiapoi opened less than a week ago on March 1 with a big party. On March 3, a group of young people stole gas bottles and other equipment. Even before it opened it was hit by other attacks, including vandalism and graffiti.
The pub’s owner David Gaughan posted on Facebook following the March 3 attack, asking for help from the public. ‘‘Having experienced insufficient police action over our incidents here at the Port and Eagle Brewpub, we are looking for people who are prepared to help us form a group to deal with perpetrators ourselves,’’ he wrote.
‘‘We experienced theft again last night. We have clear images of the youths responsible. There was a group of young guys and girls dressed in nice clothes.
‘‘We will be looking for them over coming days and dealing with them. If you know of this incident at 5am this morning and do not want to face our wrath, I recommend you come forward with further information.’’
Commenters shared anger and disappointment that a new community centrepiece was being constantly attacked.
‘‘For godsake give them a break ... you did see the amount of people there?’’ said one.
Others said: ‘‘Bloody disgusting’’ and ‘‘Hope you are able to catch these troublemakers and make them pay’’.
In an interview, Gaughan said he had told police about the tagging and vandalism, but was yet to report Sunday’s thefts. Police have been contacted for comment.
‘‘It’s just with these things adding up time after time and, like I put on that post, I’ve had enough. I’m sick of this,’’ he said.
The pub is the dazzling centrepiece of a revamped Kaiapoi riverbank.
It’s the new home of Gaughan’s craft beer business, Eagle Brewing, and was partially paid for by crowdfunding – a Pledge Me campaign raised $300,000.
Gaughan said the property was covered by 15 cameras and each stored recordings for a month, so anyone attacking it would be recorded.
He wasn’t sure exactly how a community group formed to take on the youth problem would work. But one idea that appealed was for the group to go to the youths, tell them it represented the community and it didn’t accept how they were acting.
‘‘Not in the way to go out and put them in the river, as much as I want to, just to go out and show face say we are the community, we are the ones being affected, we don’t want this, and we know who you are.’’