Shooter sentenced to 18 months

A man who fired a pistol shot into a utility as it left Litchfield Tavern was sentenced yesterday to 18 months’ jail.

Magistrate Jenny Blokland set a non-parole period of nine months for Bryan John Salter, backdating the sentence to March 26 for time in custody.

Salter, 56, of Darwin River, pleaded guilty to doing a dangerous act.

Ms Blokland said it was not proved that Salter was under the influence of alcohol at the time.

“In my view the offence is a serious one, firing where there are people around and when a vehicle is being driven off,” Ms Blokland said. “There is no doubt the risk was high and it was fortuitous that (the bullet) did not go any further than the passenger-side door.”

Salter pleaded guilty also to possessing a small amount of cannabis and to 13 firearms charges. On those charges she fined him a total of $4200 plus $560 in victim levies.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Fri, 27 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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