Gunman shot ice user, Phillip Thomas in buttock during Muswellbrook robbery, court hears
Phillip Thomas told Newcastle District Court on Wednesday that he had crawled to a nearby Muswellbrook house, blood pouring from the wound, before associates of the gunman arrived and stole “balls” of the drug “ice” and thousands of dollars cash.
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A drug user has told a jury how he was ambushed by a balaclava-clad gunman who tried to shoot him point-blank in the stomach before chasing him down and firing a bullet into his buttock.
Phillip Thomas also told Newcastle District Court on Wednesday that he had crawled to a nearby Muswellbrook house, blood pouring from the wound, before associates of the gunman arrived and stole “balls” of the drug “ice” and thousands of dollars cash.
“I was on the patio bleeding to death and they came and got the balls and cash out of my pocket,’’ Mr Wilson told the court.
He was the first witness to give evidence in the trial of Daniel Paul Bell, 40, who has pleaded not guilty to shoot with intent to murder and aggravated armed robbery.
The prosecution will allege Mr Bell had ambushed Mr Thomas outside an Anzac Pde home where the alleged victim had earlier spent $2000 on methylamphetamine before returning to the home after being told he had taken the wrong bags.
Mr Thomas told the jury he had taken a “shot” of ice at the home while he was waiting for the two “balls” – about seven grams – before he pulled out a large wad of cash to pay the $1000 a ball.
He said he put the remaining cash — between two and three thousand dollars, back in his pocket and left with the drugs.
But as he was heading home to Gunnedah, he was ordered back to the house on the suggestion that he had taken the wrong bags.
Mr Thomas said his gut instinct told him something was wrong but was reassured by a man over the phone and returned to the house.
It was there that the gunman approached wearing a balaclava.
“I looked at him and sort of said “what the f---‘’ and I turned and ran around the car to get away,’’ Mr Thomas told the court.
“…I have turned around and he is point blank and he tried to shoot me and it misfired and he reloaded and shot me in the arse.’’
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Asked exactly where he had been shot, Mr Thomas replied: “My ringhole, my arse cheek.’’
The gunman then stood over Mr Thomas and demanded cash.
Mr Thomas said despite the gunman wearing a mask, he identified him as the “Danny” which he had met the previous night during a failed attempt at buying drugs on credit.
“When you associate with these sorts of people you tend to take extra notice of the surroundings because of what is going on because they are a different breed,’’ Mr Thomas said.
When asked about how he knew the gunman was “Danny”, Mr Thomas replied: “The demeanour and his body language. I had noticed it for 45 minutes the night before and was very uncomfortable with it.’’
He had earlier told the jury that he had driven from Gunnedah to Muswellbrook to “get on” for a friend.
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He had arrived in the town on April 20 after an agreement with a dealer had been reached to buy ice on credit.
But he said the deal fell apart following a meeting between him, a second man and Mr Bell outside the Anzac Parade house.
When asked to describe Mr Bell at that meeting, Mr Thomas said he appeared agitated and paranoid.
“Just the usual things people do when they are off their head, constantly looking around … someone who couldn’t handle their drugs,’’ he said.
“He later added: “I couldn’t hear a word he was saying … just mumbling sh*t, that is how off his head he was.’’
Mr Thomas said the gunman was also mumbling as he stood over him after he had been shot.
The trial continues.
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