Trial comes to a halt for man who allegedly shot teen near Nimbin

A trial into an alleged Northern Rivers shooter has been short- lived as the judge adjourned proceedings midway.

Jordan Close begun his judge-only trial in Lismore District Court on Tuesday, August 17. Photo: NSW Police Force

A trial into an alleged Lillian Rock shooter has been short-lived as the man’s lawyers sought to have the case adjourned on day one.

Jordan Close appeared via videolink on Tuesday, August 17, in Lismore District Court as a judge-only trial began regarding an alleged 2020 shooting.

Mr Close was charged with discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and an alternative count of causing grievous bodily harm and reckless as to causing actual bodily harm.

He has been accused of being involved in a shooting that saw a 19-year old girl almost lose her left hand due to the damage.

Police allege that Mr Close shot the woman in her left hand while they were travelling at Lillian Rock on April 19.

She fled the vehicle and was later taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane for emergency surgery.

Close was arrested three days later in Terranora.

When formally arraigned, Mr Close pleaded not guilty to discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, but guilty to the alternative count of causing grievous bodily harm and reckless as to causing actual bodily harm.

The court heard the crown’s case would be to prove beyond reasonable doubt Mr Close intended to discharge the firearm.

Mr Close’s solicitor Rod Behan said the current charge of discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm didn’t take into account the possibility the gun was accidentally discharged during a struggle between the woman and Mr Close.

“He strikes the victim with the gun on two or three occasions, the victim then either grabs the barrel of the gun or grabs at the barrel of the gun and then the firearm discharges,” he said.

But Judge Jeffrey McLennan insisted the charge meant the alleged attack was a “voluntary act”.

“In my view what you have described to me as being the circumstances of your case, (that) the gun discharged, might answer the description of negligence but doesn’t answer the description of reckless,” he said.

“You might have confused the two concepts – that is reckless for negligence.”

After a break in proceedings, Mr Behan said Mr Close had requested an adjournment in proceedings.

Judge McLennan adjourned the trial for a later date in March, 2022.

Mr Close was remanded in custody in Goulburn.