Warrigal
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- Sydney, Australia
I can't find my original post about this incident but I did promise Phil that I would post the outcome of the court case.
For those who remember, a young man was pursued across the Nullabor Plain by a more senior couple who objected to him driving slowly. The man who was driving, waved a hand gun at the other driver and fired a number of rounds in the direction of his vehicle. The young man called the emergency number and the shooter was arrested and charged but only after a long and terrifying chase down a very lonely road.
This is the result - guilty of attempted murder, sentence still to come. I'll try to catch it when it comes.
Road rage shooting: Michael Craig Anderson had history of altercations with drivers, court hears By court reporter Loukas Founten
Posted Thu 29 Jan 2015
Related Story: Road rage shooting victim a 'recluse' since chase
A Perth man who tried to kill another driver on a South Australian highway by shooting at him while travelling at high speed has been involved in other altercations with drivers, the District Court has been told. Michael Craig Anderson, 54, was found guilty of attempted murder over the incident near Kimba on the Eyre Highway in July 2013.
There had been a minor collision prior to Anderson pursuing the other car at up to 180 kilometres an hour and firing shots towards it.
During sentencing submissions, the court heard Anderson maintained he was not trying to kill the other driver and only fired the gun to scare him, because he was scared and wanted to protect his wife who was a passenger.
Mr Anderson has shown no remorse or contrition for his actions during the trial or since. Any contrition shown at this stage would be an attempt to paint himself in a favourable light.
But the prosecutor, Genevieve Spencer, said that showed a lack of insight.
"This is clearly a spontaneous act and there was no planning or premeditation, however there are circumstances of aggravation," she said.
"In committing this offence, Mr Anderson didn't only put at risk the life of the victim, but also other road users. "The prosecution does not accept that Mr Anderson's actions resulted from him feeling the need to protect his wife. Mr Anderson has shown no remorse or contrition for his actions during the trial or since. Any contrition shown at this stage would be an attempt to paint himself in a favourable light."
Ms Spencer said the prosecution believed Anderson had fired upon the victim's car because he was angry at him driving at speeds of around 20 kilometres an hour below the speed limit. She said Anderson had previously exhibited intimidatory behaviour towards other drivers if he felt wronged by them.
"He has previously exhibited certain behaviours towards other road users when he feels the right to be able to intimidate those drivers he feels may have wronged him," Ms Spencer said.
Shooting was an 'isolated incident'
Defence lawyer Brian Deegan told the court the shooting should be seen as an isolated incident, given his client had no prior criminal history of such offending. "He does inform me that he is totally regretful for the situation," Mr Deegan said. My client had never met this victim before, he had absolutely no intention when he woke up of becoming involved in the mischief to which he was.
"He does accept that it was a shockingly poor call to produce a gun and fire it, certainly in the direction of another vehicle." Mr Deegan said the court should see fit to impose a lower than usual non-parole period that was not "crushing".
"It is one of the most extraordinary cases that I've dealt with over the years. It is certainly an extraordinary set of circumstances," Mr Deegan said. "My client had never met this victim before, he had absolutely no intention when he woke up of becoming involved in the mischief to which he was. The lack of planning, the lack of motivation, the lack of ill feelings, the spontaneous episode, it puts it out of the general category for this sort of offence."
The prosecution is seeking to have Anderson forfeit the gun he used in the crime, as well as two other firearms he had in the boot of his car.
Anderson will be sentenced by Justice John Sulan at a later date.
For those who remember, a young man was pursued across the Nullabor Plain by a more senior couple who objected to him driving slowly. The man who was driving, waved a hand gun at the other driver and fired a number of rounds in the direction of his vehicle. The young man called the emergency number and the shooter was arrested and charged but only after a long and terrifying chase down a very lonely road.
This is the result - guilty of attempted murder, sentence still to come. I'll try to catch it when it comes.
Road rage shooting: Michael Craig Anderson had history of altercations with drivers, court hears By court reporter Loukas Founten
Posted Thu 29 Jan 2015
Related Story: Road rage shooting victim a 'recluse' since chase
A Perth man who tried to kill another driver on a South Australian highway by shooting at him while travelling at high speed has been involved in other altercations with drivers, the District Court has been told. Michael Craig Anderson, 54, was found guilty of attempted murder over the incident near Kimba on the Eyre Highway in July 2013.
There had been a minor collision prior to Anderson pursuing the other car at up to 180 kilometres an hour and firing shots towards it.
During sentencing submissions, the court heard Anderson maintained he was not trying to kill the other driver and only fired the gun to scare him, because he was scared and wanted to protect his wife who was a passenger.
Mr Anderson has shown no remorse or contrition for his actions during the trial or since. Any contrition shown at this stage would be an attempt to paint himself in a favourable light.
But the prosecutor, Genevieve Spencer, said that showed a lack of insight.
"This is clearly a spontaneous act and there was no planning or premeditation, however there are circumstances of aggravation," she said.
"In committing this offence, Mr Anderson didn't only put at risk the life of the victim, but also other road users. "The prosecution does not accept that Mr Anderson's actions resulted from him feeling the need to protect his wife. Mr Anderson has shown no remorse or contrition for his actions during the trial or since. Any contrition shown at this stage would be an attempt to paint himself in a favourable light."
Ms Spencer said the prosecution believed Anderson had fired upon the victim's car because he was angry at him driving at speeds of around 20 kilometres an hour below the speed limit. She said Anderson had previously exhibited intimidatory behaviour towards other drivers if he felt wronged by them.
"He has previously exhibited certain behaviours towards other road users when he feels the right to be able to intimidate those drivers he feels may have wronged him," Ms Spencer said.
Shooting was an 'isolated incident'
Defence lawyer Brian Deegan told the court the shooting should be seen as an isolated incident, given his client had no prior criminal history of such offending. "He does inform me that he is totally regretful for the situation," Mr Deegan said. My client had never met this victim before, he had absolutely no intention when he woke up of becoming involved in the mischief to which he was.
"He does accept that it was a shockingly poor call to produce a gun and fire it, certainly in the direction of another vehicle." Mr Deegan said the court should see fit to impose a lower than usual non-parole period that was not "crushing".
"It is one of the most extraordinary cases that I've dealt with over the years. It is certainly an extraordinary set of circumstances," Mr Deegan said. "My client had never met this victim before, he had absolutely no intention when he woke up of becoming involved in the mischief to which he was. The lack of planning, the lack of motivation, the lack of ill feelings, the spontaneous episode, it puts it out of the general category for this sort of offence."
The prosecution is seeking to have Anderson forfeit the gun he used in the crime, as well as two other firearms he had in the boot of his car.
Anderson will be sentenced by Justice John Sulan at a later date.
