Giuseppe Corbo, father of Hectorville triple killer Donato Corbo, stands trial on gun charges

THE father of Hectorville triple murderer Donato Corbo breached gun laws by leaving the keys to his locked safes where his mentally ill son could find them, police claim.

THE father of the Hectorville triple murderer breached firearms laws by leaving the keys to his locked gun safes where his mentally ill son could find them, police claim.

But lawyers for Giuseppe Corbo say their client did everything legally required of a gun owner, and is being unfairly prosecuted for the crimes of his son.

Corbo, 71, of Hectorville, faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court today.

He pleaded not guilty to failing to secure a Class A firearm, failing to store ammunition separately from the weapon and failing to comply with conditions of his firearms licence.

It is alleged those offences occurred over the same six-day period in April 2011 during which Corbo's son, Donato, shot and killed three people.

Donato Corbo, 40, is serving a lifelong period under medical supervision, having been found not guilty of murder by reason of mental incompetence.

He shot and killed Luc Mombers and his in-laws, Kobus and Annetjie Snyman, at Hectorville.

Donato also tried to kill Mr Mombers' wife, Rika, and their son, Marcel, and wounded two police officers, Travis Emms and Brett Gibbons.

The Supreme Court heard Donato used firearms to commit the murders, shoot at Mrs Mombers and Marcel, and to wound the police officers.

Justice Michael David said the murders and shootings had been carried out "in a rage".

He ordered Donato, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, spend the rest of his life in mental health detention.

Giuseppe Corbo was subsequently charged with three counts of manslaughter as well as the firearms offences.

Prosecutors alleged he kept his shotguns in a locked cabinet, and had conceded to police that his son "must have known where the key was kept''.

In December last year, the Adelaide Magistrates Court ruled he had no case to answer on the manslaughter charges.

Magistrate Bob Harrap said the prosecution case was insufficient to prove guilt "beyond a reasonable doubt''.

Opening the trial today, prosecutor Andrew Nicholls said the case against Corbo was simple.

"We're not saying the gun safe was not locked, or that the ammunition case was not locked - they were," he said.

"What we are saying is that the keys (to the safes) were in a place where the son knew where they were.

"With all due respect, Giuseppe Corbo did not take enough care, did not do enough, to secure his firearms ... the rest is history."

Gilbert Aitken, for Corbo, said the prosecution case went beyond the bounds of legislation.

He said police wanted his client convicted for crimes that had been committed by an unwell man.

"If the firearms were locked and secured in compliance with regulations, how can police say they were unsecured?" he asked.

"Their answer is 'it's got to do with the keys' but there is nothing in the legislation about keys.

"I would like to know exactly how criminal liability falls upon Giuseppe Corbo given the manslaughter charges were dismissed."

The trial, before Magistrate Jayanthi McGrath, continues in September.

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