A man suspected of shooting a bullet through a drug dealer’s door during an attempted burglary has been denied bail, after the courts ruled he was a threat to public safety.
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Hamish Antero McKee, 20, was arrested on Tuesday by police who had been investigating an attempted home invasion in Curtin on Sunday night.
Police raided McKee’s Kaleen home, finding a .22 revolver hidden in a wall cavity, taped up with silver duct tape.
A roll of similar silver duct tape was then found on his bedhead.
They also found three clip seal bags containing a substance suspected to be methylamphetamine, as well as ammunition.
McKee faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with firearms and drug offences.
Police gave evidence that McKee is also suspected of involvement in the Curtin home invasion at the weekend.
The court heard McKee had gone to the house of a drug dealer with two others, with the intention of committing a burglary.
A detective told the court that McKee is suspected of shooting a bullet through the dealer’s front door, which then ricocheted into the home’s stairwell.
The complainant was allegedly behind the door when the shot was fired.
He said the round had been seized by police and was undergoing forensic testing, which was expected to take about two to three weeks.
McKee has not yet been charged over the shooting or the attempted aggravated burglary, and applied for bail before Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker on Wednesday.
But prosecutors opposed bail, arguing McKee was a risk of reoffending, and was likely to interfere with witnesses and evidence.
The court heard McKee’s former girlfriend had given evidence over the attempted home invasion, and police feared she was ‘‘vulnerable’’ and could be interfered with by the defendant if he was bailed.
Police also described their case against McKee as strong, if not overwhelming, and said he was the only person permanently living in the house where the gun was hidden and the drugs were found.
McKee also had an ‘‘escalating’’ drug habit, the court heard, with no job or income, and was behind in rental payments.
But the defence argued the prosecution’s case, despite the assertions of police, was ‘‘a little thin’’.
McKee’s lawyer said there was nothing to suggest he would interfere with evidence or obstruct justice, and argued that strict bail conditions would be enough to allay the prosecution’s fears.
But Ms Walker said the threat he posed to public safety was too great to release him on bail.
The matter will be back before the Magistrates Court later this month.
