Gunman shot at vehicle

A man sentenced to four years’ jail in 1992 for firing 29 rounds through a shed where a woman was cooking dinner was found guilty yesterday of shooting at an occupied utility in March this year.

Bryan John Salter, 56, of Darwin River, was found guilty of doing a dangerous act by firing towards the vehicle when it was leaving the Litchfield Tavern.

Magistrate Jenny Blokland said she did not believe Salter’s story of firing his revolver after a young man attacked him with an iron bar demanding money.

She said it was not proved that Salter was under the influence of alcohol at the time and dismissed that “aggravation” to the dangerous act charge.

Ms Blokland rejected Salter’s evidence that the young man’s attack was to do with a drug plantation being ripped off which, she said, “smacks of being of recent invention”.

She also rejected Salter’s claim he fired at the fence line to frighten his attacker.

Ms Blokland found Salter guilty of possessing an unregistered .22 revolver, other firearms charges and a small amount of cannabis.

Salter also pleaded guilty to other firearms charges, laid after a search by police of his home and car on March 26 this year.

Ms Blokland adjourned sentencing to May 26, remanding Salter in custody.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Fri, 20 May 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/
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