A MOSSMAN man who shot an unwelcome house guest in the leg after a night of drinking thanked a Cairns jury yesterday for acquitting him of unlawful wounding.
Adrian Bruce Chandler, 48, addressed the District Court jury of five men and seven women when they handed down their not guilty verdict.
"You’ll sleep well because you definitely did come to the right decision," he said.
Mr Chandler was charged with unlawful wounding after he shot Wayne Gordon Williams, 35, in the thigh with a .22-calibre rifle at his home in August 2006.
Crown prosecutor Bob English had argued Mr Chandler shot Mr Williams because he was jealous.
Mr English said the defendant felt "slighted" because he had a romantic interest in a woman, with whom Mr Williams was flirting.
However, barrister Kevin McCreanor said his client was acting in self-defence when the shot was fired.
The court had earlier heard evidence that Mr Chandler had not invited Mr Williams into his home and he was not happy with his boisterous behaviour.
After several hours of drinking, Mr Williams refused Mr Chandler’s requests for him to leave and king hit him, causing a black eye.
Shortly afterward, the defendant picked up his rifle and shot Mr Williams.
In his closing submission, Mr McCreanor asked the jury to picture the scene at Mr Chandler’s home that night.
"This man (Williams) is rampaging around the place … he’s belted you, knocked you unconscious, threatened your neighbours, and you try to get him to leave but he just ignores you.
"He (Mr Chandler) didn’t have time for calm reflection."
Mr McCreanor said his client feared further violence from Mr Williams, and picked up his rifle to defend himself from more potential blows.
The jury took just over three hours to reach its verdict.
