David Tully: John Dunne speargun attacker pleads guilty
The dramatic lead up to a horror speargun attack on Sydney’s northern beaches has been revealed for the first time as the man who pulled the trigger pleaded guilty.
Manly
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A man from Sydney’s northern beaches who shot another man in the chest with a speargun following a heated argument over a series of pestering phone calls has pleaded guilty in court.
David Sutherland Tully, 36, from Avalon Beach, was initially charged with attempted murder following the frightening ordeal on August 2 last year in Avalon, which saw his victim drive from the scene and flag down help with a spear still stuck in his chest.
Tully has been in custody since his arrest and briefly appeared in the NSW District Court on Monday to enter a plea of guilty to reckless wounding.
More serious offences of attempted murder and wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm have since been withdrawn.
The agreed facts stated the shooting happened after the pair became involved in a heated argument.
Tully had been drinking at his home on North Avalon Rd with a friend when the victim John Dunne, 49, called him stating he was driving over.
“The victim later told police the intention was to visit the offender’s home to be ‘playing guitar, smoke some bloody dope’,” the agreed facts stated.
Tully called the victim 10 to 15 times telling him about a random breath testing (RBT) site, which agitated the victim.
When he arrived, Tully continued to pester the victim about the RBT site.
“Dave you dickhead … I’m gonna pin you down … punch in the head,” the victim replied, after becoming annoyed with Tully.
The agreed facts stated the offender took his words as a threat and he went inside to his bedroom to get his speargun.
A witness heard Tully say, as he was loading his speargun, “f*** you, you want to threaten me, you come to my house and want to threaten me”.
He walked back outside before pointing the speargun at the victim at close range and shooting him.
“The spear penetrated Dunne’s abdomen,” the agreed facts stated.
“Dunne stumbled within the yard and went to his car. Dunne was not able to properly close the driver’s side door due to the protruding spear.
“Dunne then accelerated his car away from the accused.
“Dunne drove a short distance away and waved down help from members of the community.
“The police and ambulance were called to assist Dunne and remove him from the car. Dunne was airlifted to hospital.”
He required surgery to have the spear safely removed from his chest and fortunately the spear barbs had not opened.
Police found the offender the next day and he was arrested. Police have not found the speargun, the agreed facts stated.
Tully is due back in court for sentencing in October.
The agreed facts stated the Crown prosecution conceded it could not prove beyond reasonable doubt that Tully intended to cause grievous bodily harm to the victim.