Warrigal
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- Location
- Sydney, Australia
I promised to fill people in on the aftermath of an incident where a young man was pursued across a lonely stretch of road in South Australia by a man waving a hand gun and shooting at the fleeing car.
He's been sentenced to 14 years gaol.
He's been sentenced to 14 years gaol.
Eyre Highway road rage shooter jailed for 14 years for attempted murder
By Loukas Founten
Updated 16 Feb 2015, 1:20pmMon 16 Feb 2015, 1:20pm
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Map: Kimba 5641
A Perth man who fired shots at another man during a high-speed road rage incident in South Australia has been jailed for 14 years.
Michael Craig Anderson, 54, was found guilty of attempted murder for the incident that took place near Kimba on the Eyre Highway in July 2013.
The Supreme Court heard that Anderson became frustrated because the car in front of him was travelling about 20 kilometres per hour below the signed speed limit in an effort to conserve fuel. Anderson overtook the car and then slammed on his brakes to cause a minor collision.
The other driver became concerned about what he described as an "abnormal manoeuvre" and overtook Anderson's car, only for Anderson to repeat the manoeuvre. When he overtook for a second time and tried to drive away, he spotted Anderson leaning out the window and aiming a gun towards him.
Anderson fired at least five shots towards the other car while pursuing it at speeds of up to 180kph. One of the shots hit the petrol tank of the other car.
Anderson 'only wanted to scare' the driver
Anderson maintained he only fired the gun to scare the other driver away because he wanted to protect his mentally ill wife, who was a passenger. During his trial he told the jury he had no intention to kill the other driver and only fired at the road to encourage the driver to leave him and his wife alone.
He told the court he was "incredibly accurate" with a handgun, able to shoot golf balls from 50 metres away.
Supreme Court Justice John Sulan rejected Anderson's evidence and said that he was satisfied that Anderson had an intention to kill the other driver, Zephatali Walsh, in an unprovoked attack.
"I'm satisfied that at least five shots were fired during the pursuit," Justice Sulan said. "The jury was also satisfied that on at least one of the occasions that you fired, you were intending to kill him. I'm satisfied that your wife's reaction to the incident contributed to your actions that day."
Justice Sulan said Anderson had not fully accepted responsibility for his actions.
"I'm satisfied that you are sorry for what occurred but I'm not convinced that you are aware that the events are of your own doing," he said. "The offence is extremely serious. It is fortunate that no physical injuries were caused by your conduct."
Justice Sulan said he had listened to calls made by the other driver to emergency services in which the fear was obvious in his voice. "He genuinely believed he was going to die," he said. "He was extremely frightened. The chase continued on for over half an hour."
Anderson will not be able to seek parole until July 2021 and has been banned from driving until a further order is made.
He was ordered to forfeit the gun he used and two others found in the boot of his car.
The court will allow the guns to be sold and, after the deduction of some expenses, the money raised will be given to Anderson.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-...aging-gun-shooter-jailed-for-14-years/6116974
