Gavin Raymond Pates’ manslaughter case delayed
A manslaughter case surrounding the death of a South Burnett father is facing lengthy delays as the primary witness faces charges ‘relevant’ to the case.
Police & Courts
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The court case surrounding the death of a young father-of-two allegedly shot by a property-owning businessman in 2024 has been delayed so the primary witness with “extremely relevant” charges can have his matters dealt with.
Gavin Raymond Pates, 39, was charged with one count each of manslaughter and insecure storage of weapons in relation to the shooting death of 21-year-old Nanango man Blayde Barber on March 21, 2024.
The Booie man, who was previously excused from appearing in court in person, was represented by lawyer Sjaana Steffens from KF Solicitors in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Friday, June 27.
Ms Steffens asked Magistrate Andrew Sinclair for a “lengthy adjournment” of several months as the “primary witness” in the case was facing court with “extremely relevant” charges.
“The primary witness in this matter has some charges that are extremely relevant to this offence currently before the court and we would like to wait for the determination of those charges,” she said.
Police alleged Mr Barber and another man drove onto Mr Pates’ property on Kingaroy Barkers Creek Road around 11.30pm the night he was shot.
Mr Pates was alleged to have came out of his home armed with a gun and to have shot at the car as it drove past him, hitting Mr Barber.
The 2005 Hyundai Sonata then crashed into a fence post.
Emergency services were called to the scene, and found Mr Barber unconscious and trapped in the wreckage.
He was transported to Kingaroy Hospital with critical injuries, where he later died.
Mr Blayde and Mr Pates reportedly did not know each other.
Mr Pates was granted bail in Murgon Magistrates Court in April, 2024, during which time the court heard there had been previous break-ins at the Booie property.
The case is due back in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on November 21, 2025.
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