A Canberra father informed on his best mate, leading police officers to where the pair stashed a shotgun in the aftermath of a shooting attack, court documents allege.
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Paul John Fredrickson, 34, was refused bail in the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
He's admitted to playing a part in a violent May 30 incident, which left a Dunlop stranger hospitalised with a gunshot wound to the chest; his teenage son forced to rush to his aid.
Police documents tendered to the court said the confrontation was incited when Fredrickson's best mate, Benjamin Hallam, got a call from his ex-partner saying she'd been "bashed by five black guys".
The documents said in reality, 21-year-old Isabella Denis had gone to a Dunlop family's home, knocked on the door, and said, "Oh, sorry, wrong house", before she lied down on the road.
The couple inside were concerned for Denis' safety, so they asked her if she was OK while their eight-year-old granddaughter watched on. The documents said Denis told them "I'm fine" and "f--- off", before the man moved her to the nearest footpath and she struck him in the face.
The documents said after Denis called Mr Hallam and said she'd been bashed, he enlisted Fredrickson to go with him and "find out what was going on".
Fredrickson fetched a baseball bat and Mr Hallam allegedly retrieved a gun before Denis led the pair to the Dunlop house.
It's there police allege the 34-year-old smashed a glass inset by the front door and, after he tussled with the man inside, Mr Hallam shot through the door, hitting the victim in the chest.
In an interview with police, Fredrickson allegedly said he only realised Mr Hallam had a gun on him when he pulled it out, and he yelled "no" before his best mate fired.
The documents said police found the baseball bat floating in West Belconnen Pond and, later, while en route to the watch house, Fredrickson voluntarily agreed to show them where Mr Hallam had ditched the shotgun.
The documents said officers located the gun in a pond at Dunlop Grasslands Nature Reserve.
They said Fredrickson told police he was "shitting himself" after the assault, and only broke the glass inset as retribution for Denis' bashing claim. The documents said Fredrickson told police he wouldn't have gone to the house if he'd known the actual circumstances of what went on beforehand.
Fredrickson has pleaded guilty to possessing the baseball bat with intent to damage property, as well as attempting to destroy or conceal evidence. He has not entered pleas to other charges.
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Mr Hallam is still before the courts, having pleaded not guilty to charges, while Denis was handed a good behaviour order over her role in the incident last month.
She was not charged with offences relating to the shooting.
Fredrickson applied for bail on Tuesday, but his application was refused on account of him not being able to prove "special or exceptional circumstances".
The court heard his family was struggling to look after an ill loved one without him, but Magistrate Bernadette Boss said that wasn't an unusual circumstance when people were in custody.
Fredrickson will be sentenced on October 27 for possessing the baseball bat with intent to damage property and attempting to destroy or conceal evidence.
He told his partner via audio-visual link from a remote room on Tuesday "I'm fine", and, "It will be OK in the end, babe".
Cassandra Morgan
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
