Canberra bikie Peter Zdravkovic avoids jail on gun, knuckleduster charges after naked shootout
Top former Comanchero Peter Zdravkovic has “better than reasonable prospects” of living a law-abiding, hardworking life of a family man, a judge says
Canberra Star
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Former Comanchero bikie boss Peter Zdravkovic has narrowly dodged jail time on weapons charges, more than two years after he jumped out the shower naked and returned fire on a bikie hit squad that was shooting up his home.
Zdravkovic, 38, appeared visibly relieved in court on Thursday as Justice David Mossop sentenced him to nine months jail, fully suspended, for the possession of a Sako rifle, which police found in his roof cavity shortly after the shooting.
An ACT Supreme Court jury had previously found him guilty of the gun and knuckleduster charge, and Justice Mossop found him guilty of the ammunition charge.
Zdravkovic, the court heard, was a hardworking concreter with a young son who had accepted an ultimatum from his partner that he needed to put his life as a bikie behind him.
Justice David Mossop said Zdravkovic had “better than reasonable prospects” to lead a law-abiding life.
He said it was “very much in the long term interests of the community” that former bikie gang members be given a chance to “establish themselves as law abiding”.
Zdravkovic told a court-ordered report writer the bladed, wolverine-style knuckle dusters police found in his shed were a “collectors item”.
His barrister, Jason Moffett, argued unsuccessfully at trial that the weapons were for Zdravkovic’s self-defence, and that police had not done enough to protect the former chapter president in the days before the attempted hit-job.
Zdravkovic had previously been shot and police had arrested a gang member near Zdravkovic’s home.
Justice Mossop said Zdravkovic had the chance to tell police where the gun was when they converged on his home following the shooting.
Zdravkovic’s father, a former military policeman, said in a letter that he had come to understand he had been too much of a disciplinarian when raising his son.
Justice Mossop said Zdravkovic, once a successful wrestler and soccer player, was now focused on being a good father and a family man.
Zdravkovic’s criminal history includes everything from failing to vote to possessing a replica pistol, obstructing a public official and assault.
Zdravkovic was supported in court by his partner, friends, and mother, whose home was also shot at during the attempt on her son’s life.
Zdravkovic was also fined $2000 for the possession of the knuckledusters and $500 for the possession of four bullets.
