Kenneth Smith allegedly tried to shoot wife after accusing her of affair

A Helensburgh man has been refused bail following allegations he fired shots at his wife of 37 years after accusing her of having an affair.

A chronically ill Helensburgh man has been refused bail after police allege he shot at his wife of 37 years because he thought she was having an affair.

Kenneth Norman Smith, 59, was arrested on Tuesday, and appeared in bail court charged with discharging a firearm with an intent to commit grievous bodily harm on Thursday.

Sighting the serious nature of the charge, Registrar Bruiceen Coulthard refused the application for bail, despite Smith suffering from multiple health conditions, including leukaemia.

During Smith’s appearance, the court heard that on January 5, his wife took him to a doctor’s appointment, before returning him home when he began drinking vodka.

Later that afternoon, police allege in court documents Smith received a letter from the NSW Firearms Registry, stating that his firearms licence would not be renewed.

Smith, the owner of a shotgun and an air rifle, allegedly became angry when he received the letter, telling his wife “they shouldn’t cross me they will regret it”.

Kenneth Norman Smith, 59, fronted Wollongong Local Court. Picture: Steven Bell

The court heard due to Smith’s alleged behaviour, his wife told police she left the home to do some shopping. When she returned, it was alleged in court documents, the victim saw her husband pointing an air rifle directly at her.

It’s alleged Smith then fired a shot at his wife, prompting her to scream: “What the hell are you doing? Trying to shoot me?”

In response, it’s alleged in the documents Smith accused the woman of having an affair, saying “you have been meeting a man or woman up the road”.

Smith allegedly fired another shot in her direction, court documents reveal the woman ran off and believed her husband was “dead serious” about trying to shoot her.

The court heard the woman remained outside the house as she screamed at her husband to put the gun away, however when she made her way back up the stairs, it’s alleged Smith fired at her a third time.

Frightened, the woman said she would call triple-0, to which allegedly prompted Smith to say

“if you do that, it will be the last thing you will do”.

The woman contacted police some time later, who attended the Tunnel Rd home where they allegedly found the air rifle and shot gun.

In court on Thursday, police prosecutor Sergeant Tanya Pavlin strongly opposed bail, noting the offence carried with it a maximum of 25 years in jail if found guilty.

“He is said to have fired directly at the victim on a number of occasions,” she said.

Registrar Coulthard agreed the allegations were serious and refused bail.

The matter will return to court later this month.