Former CAFL Souths captain Michael Tilmouth-Turner fronts Alice Springs court on gun charge
A former footy captain has avoided jail after being busted with a gun in the Red Centre, which his lawyer says was in his possession for an ‘emergency reason’ – which left the judge dumbfounded. Find out why
Northern Territory
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A former footy captain busted with a gun in Alice Springs was holding it for an “emergency reason” which “probably prevented someone else from committing a crime,” a court has heard.
Michael James Alexander Tilmouth-Turner, 28, fronted the Alice Springs Local Court on Monday, facing a string of charges.
On Friday, January 4, he was arrested possessing an unlicensed handgun in Larapinta, and charged with possessing an unlicensed firearm, alongside possessing nine rounds of ammunition.
Police also charged him with driving an unlicensed and uninsured car while under the influence of drugs.
He was also facing drug driving charges dating back to August 2024.
He stood tall and whispered his guilty pleas to all of his charges.
He was placed in remand after his arrest on Friday, and was on a suspended sentence “for domestic violence related offending,” his defence lawyer Louise Marshall told the court.
Tilmouth-Turner had previously pleaded guilty to his domestic violence charges in 2023, and was given a two-year suspended for it in December 2023.
She said her client was the former captain of the South’s footy club in Alice Springs, and since receiving his suspended sentence, had completed rehab, and was now employed.
While Tilmouth-Turner appeared behind the dock, supporting him in the public gallery was his mother, his partner, and his seven-week-old child.
Tilmouth-Turner stole glances at his family in between looking at the ground and Judge John McBride, who was presiding over the matter.
Ms Marshall said the reason her client was in possession of the handgun was an “emergency reason” which “probably prevented someone else committing a crime” – a point which seemed to catch Judge McBride off guard.
“It’s a reason for possessing a firearm to prevent somebody else from committing a crime?” he asked Ms Marshall.
“Yes, your honour,” she replied.
“I don’t believe people go about our community, Ms Marshall, with unlicensed firearms in that position. It’s unlawful to do that,” he stated back.
“Yes,” she said, stating her client did not use the gun to “commit a serious offence”, therefore the offending was at the “lower end of objective seriousness”.
Police Prosecutor Kosilini Masani said the gun – a Lorcin L25 – “shouldn’t have been in his possession at all”, with the possession warranting a term of imprisonment.
Judge McBride convicted Tilmouth-Turner on all of his charges.
Tilmouth-Turner was sentenced to three months prison for possessing the handgun, served concurrently with 14 days for possessing the ammunition, but Judge McBride suspended the sentence for 18 months.
For the drug-driving, Judge McBride suspended Tilmouth-Turner’s licence for three months, and fined him $3200.
His breach of his suspended sentence was dismissed by Judge McBride, who noted his “very good compliance” throughout it.
“It is for that reason that you have persuaded me not to send you into actual imprisonment today,” Judge McBride said.
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Originally published as Former CAFL Souths captain Michael Tilmouth-Turner fronts Alice Springs court on gun charge
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