A former bikie boss who was shot at his home in a targeted attack faces the possibility of a jail sentence after a jury found him guilty of two weapons charges.
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Former Canberra Comanchero commander Peter Zdravkovic stood trial in the ACT Supreme Court this week on charges of possessing a rifle and knuckledusters without authorisation on June 30, 2018.
Police seized the items during a search of the 38-year-old's Calwell home that day, less than 48 hours after he was shot in the left hand by masked intruders who also set three of his cars alight.
Zdravkovic, who had just hopped out of the shower when the attackers started shooting at him, lost the top of one of his fingers and returned fire with a Sako .270 bolt action rifle while naked.
The attack came after Zdravkovic left the Comancheros and burnt his colours at the height of a dispute that had divided the gang's Canberra chapter.
He claimed also to have been shot in the head by similarly masked men in an earlier incident that he said took place in March 2018.
The court heard that during their search of Zdravkovic's premises, police found the blood-stained rifle hidden in a roof cavity above the laundry. The bladed knuckledusters were located in a shed on the property.
But Zdravkovic's barrister, Jason Moffett, argued during closing submissions on Thursday that the 38-year-old could not have possessed either weapon on the date alleged.
He said that on June 30, 2018, Zdravkovic did not enter either area where the weapons were found and therefore no one was in possession of them that day until police took them.
The trial jury, which retired to deliberate on Thursday afternoon, quickly rejected that argument and returned guilty verdicts on both counts on Friday morning.
Zdravkovic did not appear moved as the jury foreman announced the verdicts.
Crown prosecutor Patrick Dixon told the court he would not apply to have Zdravkovic's bail revoked immediately.
However, he indicated he would "probably" argue at sentencing that the 38-year-old should receive a jail term.
Justice David Mossop, who ruled during the trial that Zdravkovic could not rely upon an argument of self-defence to fight the charges, said he would deal with sentencing next Thursday.
He directed Mr Dixon and Mr Moffett to provide the court with written submissions on a related charge of unauthorised ammunition possession before then.
The judge dismissed a further two summary transfer charges, which were of methylamphetamine possession and failure to properly store a firearm.
READ MORE:
- 'They won't leave alive': What former bikie boss allegedly told police before attack
- Former bikie boss 'shot in head during first of two attacks by masked gunmen'
- Partner found former bikie boss bleeding from head after shooting, court hears
- Self-defence ruled out in trial of former bikie boss Peter Zdravkovic
