Christopher James Herricane in court for stalking, weapons charges

A Bundaberg father of three has been jailed after he pleaded guilty to stalking his ex-wife and holding a gun to another person’s head in what ‘could so easily have been a homicide’.

Christopher James Herricane pleaded guilty to weapons and stalking charges in the Bundaberg District Court.

A Bundaberg man has been jailed after he stalked his ex-wife and threatened the man he believed played “some part in the breakdown of the relationship” with a loaded rifle and machete.

Christopher James Herricane pleaded guilty in the Bundaberg District Court to one count of unlawful stalking with possession of a weapon, one count of dangerous conduct with a weapon and one count of discharging a loaded weapon at night with intent to cause harm.

The court heard the 46-year-old had travelled to his Apple Tree Creek marital home on November 12, 2022 to speak to his ex-wife of 14 years.

She was in the shower when he arrived and he turned off the home's water before entering the house.

The two then argued, before Herricane left, only to quickly return armed with a rifle, machete and zip ties.

The court heard he again argued with his ex-wife before making his way to a camper bus on the property, weapons in hand, to confront a man staying there.

Crown prosecutor Ben Jackson said Herricane had previously sent an “important” text to his ex-wife about the man, which said “keep your man out of our family home until we settle things”.

Herricane yelled at the man, telling him to leave the property before he “aimed the rifle at [the man’s] head”, the court was told.

“[The man] didn’t know whether the gun was loaded or not. Herricane then pulled the trigger, no round was fired.

“Herricane then said ‘next time it’s loaded,’” Mr Jackson said.

Herricane left, before returning to the camper bus minutes later, once again aiming the gun at the man living there.

“[The man] grabbed the gun, which then fired. The projectile went through the metal door of the bus before lodging inside,” Mr Jackson said.

“It is difficult to conceive of a more serious example of threatening violence … this could so easily have been a homicide.”

Barrister Kylie Hillard represented Herricane and said when the gun fired he “realised the gravity” of the situation and unbolted the weapon before laying it on the ground.

Judge Tony Moynihan KC said Herricane assumed the man had “some part in the breakdown of the relationship”.

Herricane was sentenced to three years jail with parole on November 13, 2023 with 284 days of presentence custody as time served.

Convictions were recorded.