Moonie man Jeremy Francis Howard sentenced for threatening to kill neighbour’s son

A 45-year-old Moonie man has been sentenced for threatening to kill his neighbour’s teenage son when a dispute over music volume turned ugly.

Jeremy Francis Howard faced a Dalby court for making threats against his neighbour’s son during a dispute that started over music volume.

A 45-year old Moonie man has pleaded guilty to one count of threatening violence at night after he threatened to slit the throat of his neighbour’s 18-year-old son.

The court was told on February 18 2023 Jeremy Francis Howard was on his front veranda with his wife drinking and listening to music when the 18-year-old son of his next door neighbour came around to tell him to turn the music down.

Howard refused his request and sometime later his neighbour, the boy’s father, came around to tell him to be more courteous to his son.

The court was told an argument then ensued in which Howard threatened to get his gun as well as threatening to get his dog to attack him before his neighbour struck Howard to the face with his elbow breaking Howard’s nose.

The court was told that Howard’s wife went inside to report the incident to police, who reportedly said they were busy with other matters and couldn't attend.

The court was told the argument continued over the fence with Howard’s neighbour goading him to come closer and threatening to get his mates to come and attack him.

The court was told Howard then threatened to slit his neighbour’s son’s throat before calling the police again out of fear for his safety, this time telling them he had been stabbed to the stomach in an effort to get them to attend.

Police then attended the property and detained Howard, who while resisting arrest was dragged off his veranda and fell down several stairs landing on the concrete floor, bruising his ribs.

When sentencing Judge Terry Gardiner noted Howard’s extensive criminal history which included previous threats of violence and referred to him as a “bluffer” who had a history of threatening people but never following through.

Howard was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 15 months.