Billy Skeen in Grafton court over alleged shooting after funeral

It was an emotional day in court for a young dad who was refused bail on charges of shooting a gun and affray which arose out of a “significant” funeral.

A young man could not contain his emotions in court as he went from making “call me” gestures to his partner to later lashing out in anger.

Billy Skeen, 21, made hand gestures indicating “call me” when he appeared on a video link in Grafton Local Court on Monday.

He held his head in his hands at a later point as the court heard an application for his bail.

Mr Skeen’s solicitor Joshua Craig told the court the matters arose out of a significant funeral.

Mr Skeen is charged with fire a firearm at a building other than a dwelling/house.

He is alleged to have shown reckless regard for the safety of Rowan Hardy and Roy Bell during the alleged incident, which happened at Bent Street in South Grafton just before midnight on Friday, March 11.

He faces a second charge of affray threatening unlawful violence towards Rowan Hardy.

Mr Craig said Mr Skeen needed bail to allow him to parent his two young children.

Bail was sought outside of the Grafton area for Mr Skeen to live at his partner’s father’s home in Bowraville.

Mr Craig said the partner’s father was happy to have Mr Skeen “under his wing”.

He also said his client was at risk of institutionalisation due to his long history of “close calls”.

Magistrate Kathy Crittenden acknowledged the offences occurred in the context of sorry business and the extreme vulnerability of being a young Aboriginal male.

But she stopped short of accepting that he was at risk of institutionalisation.

Billy Skeen was refused bail at Grafton Court House on March 14 for firing a firearm with reckless disregard and threatening unlawful violence to Rowan Hardy.

Police prosecutor Ursula Kryj noted the circumstances with Mr Skeen’s children but said the alleged firearm discharge was of considerable violence.

She said it “could have ended differently”.

Ms Kryj said Mr Skeen posed a significant risk to the community and was already subject to an intensive corrective order and two community correction orders for matters of considerable violence.

Mr Skeen and his partner Violet Ballangarry both cried as the application was heard before the court.

He stood up and punched the audio visual room door twice when he heard the decision to refuse his bail.

The matter is listed for brief status committal on May 9.