QLD man sentenced for threatening man with shotgun amid property dispute

A Central Queensland man armed himself with a shotgun before confronting another man over a property dispute, waving the weapon and taunting, ‘Look what I’ve got’ during the terrifying encounter.

Thomas Terrence Russell, 28, appeared in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on February 6, 2023.

A Central Queensland man armed himself with a shotgun before confronting another man over a property dispute and issuing a chilling threat that one of them was about to die.

Thomas Terrence Russell went to the Central Highlands property with the firearm on October 1, 2021 after ongoing and escalating tensions with the other man, telling him, “I am going to die tonight, or you are going to die tonight”.

Police prosecutor Clancy Fox said the victim was at his property in Consuelo when he saw a vehicle on the property and went to investigate.

He said Russell, whose weapons licence was suspended, drove up beside the victim’s vehicle, held up a firearm and yelled, “Look what I’ve got. This is your gun and it’s unlocked”.

“He has waved the firearm out the passenger window towards the victim,” he said.

The victim stopped his vehicle and Russell got out of his with the shotgun, assuring him, “I just want to talk”, but warning the other man, “You better not be filming me”.

Mr Fox said Russell cocked the firearm and started to raise it toward the victim, “but did not actually point it directly at him”.

The Rockhampton Magistrates Court was told Russell then said to the other man, “I am going to die tonight, or you are going to die tonight”.

“The victim was very scared,” Mr Fox said.

The victim then left the property and contacted police.

After returning to his property with police, the victim noticed Russell had entered the home and attempted to remove the gun safe, and had also entered a helicopter and found a shotgun.

A few days later on October 3, Russell attended the Moura Police Station and handed himself in.

Defence lawyer Brian McGowran said his client was the father of a young child and the property manager at the victim’s property for eight years.

“There was a bit of a falling out … about what is going to happen in the future with the property,” Mr McGowran said.

He said his client, who was a professional shooter, claimed he was at the property for the breech birth of a beast.

Russell pleaded guilty on February 6 to one count each of enter dwelling with intent by break, enter premises and commit indictable offence by break, threatening violence, common assault, unlawful possession of category C weapon, and dangerous conduct with a weapon.

He was sentenced to nine months’ jail with immediate parole, and 38 days pre-sentence custody declared as time served.