Intruder shot, leaves 50m blood trail on street before dying in gutter
A SYDNEY gangster armed with a World War II pistol has been shot dead in a botched Gold Coast home invasion believed to be linked to drugs.
The man, 34, was shot in the leg with a vintage Luger pistol after a struggle with the homeowner at Silvereye Circuit in Gilston in the Gold Coast Hinterland in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Sources say the 29-year-old homeowner told police he arrived home about 1.40am to be confronted by four masked men inside the house.
He told police he wrestled with one of the intruders and the gun discharged, the bullet hitting the man's femoral artery.
Bleeding profusely, he staggered outside and into the street where he dropped dead, leaving a 50m blood trail in his wake.
This afternoon, police charged the homeowner with manslaughter. He is expected to face Southport Magistrates Court tomorrow morning.
Sources said drugs were believed to be at the centre of the shooting and the four men who took part in the home invasion had travelled up from Sydney.
Earlier, Gold Coast police regional crime co-ordinator Tim Trezise said said the spate of gun crimes on the Gold Coast, including the fatal shooting in May of police officer Damian Leeding, was upsetting the community and putting pressure on police.
"It continues to be a concern to police and the whole community in relation to firearm offences and offences of this ilk," he said.
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There are two things in this article that I am not comfortable with:
1. The homeowner being charged with manslaughter when it appears that he was confronted with armed home invaders and it was one of the home invaders' guns.
2. The reference to the "spate of gun crimes". I fear that this event and others of a similar nature this year will lead to more calls for increased regulation and legislation.
Source: Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/man-shot-dead-in-house-in-gold-coast-hinterland-house/story-e6frfkvr-1226092957377#ixzz1RtqkBS00
[UPDATE]Well he has been granted bail (against the wishes of the police). He'll be back in court on October 4th. Latest update here: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/man-who-shot-intruder-is-real-victim/story-e6frfku0-1226093741352[/UPDATE]
3 comments:
Yeah, that is a bit interesting... defending himself and HE gets charged because the bad guy's gun went off??? WTFO???
I've seen that here, too, NFO.
The basic premise being to find the defender not guilty due to self-defence.
This renders him immune from persecution by a law suit from family members.
Skul- Be that as it may, but to charge someone for clearly defending himself seems contra-indicated...
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