Death walks free from prison after "Mad Max" shootout

A MAN involved in a 'Mad Max' style family feud shoot-out at Copmanhurst has walked free after spending more than a year in custody.

A scene from Mad Max: Fury Road.

A MAN involved in a family feud shoot-out at Copmanhurst has walked free after spending more than a year in custody.

Wade Death, 39, appeared before Magistrate Robyn Denes in Grafton Local Court on Tuesday, charged with firing a firearm in a manner likely to injure, the possession of a prohibited weapon and ammunition, and cultivation of a prohibited plant.

All charges stemmed from what was previously described in court as a "Mad Max" style shooting at a Stockyard Creek Rd property last year, involving Death, his older brother Lloyd - who was also his neighbour - and 29-year-old Kurtis Young.

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According to the full facts, there had been a "long history of animosity" between the Death brothers, but it was on March 14, 2015, that things escalated.

The confrontation began when Lloyd Death drove his motorcycle past Wade's parked vehicle on Stockyard Creek Rd on his way home.

The pair exchanged "hand gestures" before Wade got into the car and followed him dangerously close. On overtaking the motorcycle, Wade threw a half-full Jack Daniels stubby at Lloyd, and and for the next four kilometres threw bolts and screws from the car.

The police facts stated that on arriving home, and after hearing his brother's car doing burnouts, Lloyd took a Winchester rifle out of his gun safe and placed it on his bed with ammunition.

Wade, accompanied by Young, then drove up Lloyd's driveway, both men holding rifles, and when they started shooting at Lloyd he loaded his gun and fired back, hitting Wade's vehicle.

After a dangerous exchange Lloyd ran to the house and reloaded while Wade and Young moved to scrub down the road, from where they continued to fire shots at Lloyd and his property.

When police arrived to investigate they found bullet holes in a tractor, Jeep, shed and caravan on the property, as well as shattered windows.

Police later searched Wade Death's home as part of the investigation, discovering a 90cm cannabis plant and six smaller plants growing inside, as well as several quantities of dried cannabis on the kitchen table and hidden around the house, totalling 792.8 grams.

Rifle cartridges were found on the floor of the bedroom and ammunition was discovered on top of a wardrobe.

Wade Death was sentenced to two years' jail with a non-parole period of 12 months for the shooting, which, due to time already served, saw him sign his parole papers the day of the sentencing.

For the cultivation of a prohibited plant he was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond.

His brother Lloyd Death walked away from court in December with a nine-month good behaviour bond.

Originally published as Death walks free from prison after "Mad Max" shootout