Samuel ‘Sam’ Lynch: Grafton man on trial for assault, firing a gun at South Grafton

A man allegedly shot a 15-year-old boy, knocked a father-of-four unconscious and fired at the leg of another man after “chaos erupted” at a family gathering, a jury has heard.

Samuel Lynch, arrest warrant after an alleged shooting incident in Grafton.

A Grafton man allegedly shot a 15-year-old boy after “chaos erupted” at a gathering to mark the anniversary of a death, a jury heard.

Samuel ‘Sam’ Lynch, 42, is on trial at Grafton District Court after he pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, firing a gun with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm and firing a gun in a way that is likely to injure someone.

The events are alleged to have occurred in South Grafton on the evening of Saturday, July 10, 2021.

In her opening address to the jury on Monday, the Crown prosecutor alleged Lynch shot a 15-year-old after he had elbowed the boy’s dad in the head, knocking him unconscious.

Samuel Lynch is on trial at Grafton District Court.

The fact that Lynch had arrived at the gathering armed with a pistol and had later fired the gun will not be disputed, the court heard.

It will also not be disputed that the bullet had entered the 15-year-old’s torso and Lynch had soon after left South Grafton for the Gold Coast, where he was tracked down and arrested by police on July 26, 2021.

The defence will instead contend Lynch had acted in self-defence when he elbowed the father and accidentally fired the gun.

Samuel Lynch is alleged to have shot a 15-year-old.

On the night of the alleged shooting different families had gathered and many people were drinking, the jury heard.

The prosecution told the court Lynch was fetched by a relative who said he would get a gun after he was “chastised” and given “a clip over the head” at the gathering.

“(Lynch arrived and) had also brought with him a loaded, shortened .22 calibre gun,” the prosecution said.

When a father-of-four attempted to diffuse the situation, Lynch elbowed him in the head and he was left unconscious in the gutter, the prosecution alleged.

“From the moment … (he) went down, chaos erupted,” the prosecution said.

It is alleged two of the father’s sons ran after Lynch with makeshift weapons, possibly hockey sticks.

The jury heard Lynch then pulled out the pistol, swung his arm around and fired at the 15-year-old.

“He gave no warning, said no words,” the prosecution said.

Samuel Lynch has been charged over an alleged shooting at South Grafton.

The 15-year-old was shot in the torso and later flown to the Gold Coast Hospital. Doctors considered him lucky not to have major organ damage.

His brother continued the pursuit when another man “came out of nowhere” and hit Lynch on the back of the head, the court heard.

Lynch is then alleged to have fired the pistol once more, with the bullet grazing the man’s knee and passing through his overalls.

The trial continues before Judge Robert Newlinds SC in Grafton District Court continues.