Michael Rattenbury: St Georges Basin man allegedly fired bullets from car

A man accused of firing a sawn-off shotgun from a car window on a residential street has made a bid for freedom.

The shooting allegedly occurred in Denhams Beach.

An accused shooter’s bid for freedom has been crushed by a court, which has heard he allegedly fired a shotgun out a car window on a residential street on the NSW south coast.

Michael Rattenbury, 41, is charged with firing a firearm in a manner likely injure, possessing a loaded firearm in a public place, possessing a shortened firearm without authority, using and supplying a stolen firearm, possessing ammunition without holding a licence, permit or authority, and unlicensed driving.

The charges follow an incident earlier this year, when he allegedly fired a gun in Denhams Beach, Batemans Bay.

The St Georges Basin man is yet to enter pleas.

His matter returned to Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday, when lawyer Tony Cullinan applied for bail on his behalf.

Rattenbury has been in custody at the South Coast Corrections Centre since his arrest and bail refusal on March 14.

Michael Rattenbury’s matter was heard in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday.

The arrest came nearly two months after south coast police responded to reports of shots fired near Beach Rd, Denhams Beach, about 6km southeast of Batemans Bay.

Police allege at 3.30pm, on January 12 this year, shots were fired on a Denhams Beach street from a car window during an altercation. No one was hit or injured.

Officers attached to South Coast Police District attended and established a crime scene.

Police then established Strike Force Implant to investigate the circumstances surrounding the public place shooting.

A sawn-off firearm was seized at the scene and taken for forensic examination.

Following inquiries and extensive investigations, officers from the South Coast Regional Enforcement Squad searched a home in St Georges Basin – 104km north of Denhams Beach – on March 14.

During the search of the Bruce St home, police discovered and seized a gel blaster rifle, shotgun ammunition, cannabis plant and a mobile phone.

All items were sent away for forensic examination.

Rattenbury was then arrested and charged, before bail was refused at the Nowra Police Station.

In Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday, the prosecutor strongly opposed bail.

The prosecutor detailed the allegations, noting that police alleged a sawn-off shotgun was fired from a car window on a residential Denhams Beach street.

“Two bullets left the car,” he said.

The prosecutor said the allegations, along with Rattenbury’s criminal history, which included a previous term of full-time custody, were too serious to allow bail.

However, Mr Cullinan argued his client needed as bail as he cared for his partner.

This submission was rejected by the prosecutor.

“If he was concerned about his partner, he wouldn’t have committed the offence,” he said.

Magistrate Doug Dick agreed, noting the allegations were “extremely serious” and the court needed to consider the safety of the community, as well as Rattenbury’s criminal history.

Bail was refused for Rattenbury, who will return to Batemans Bay Local Court on August 19 for charge certification.

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