Robina shooter and Mongols bikie Mark James Graham gets 12 years for attempted murder and unlawful wounding
THE Robina Town Centre gunman who shot an innocent bystander while attempting to kill a rival bikie gang member has been sentenced to 12 years’ jail.
Crime and Court
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UPDATED: A BIKIE gunman who shot an innocent bystander while attempting to kill a rival bikie gang member at a Gold Coast shopping centre has been sentenced to 12 years and three months’ jail.
Mark James Graham, a 28-year-old Mongols bikie, was in late September found guilty of opening fire on then-Bandidos member Jacques Teamo at the Robina Town Centre.
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One of Graham’s two bullets hit bystander Kathy Devitt in the buttock during the April 2012 shooting.
During sentencing today, Graham offered Ms Devitt $10,000 compensation for shooting her and wrote her a letter of remorse.
Justice Alan Wilson said he was handing down a hefty sentence ‘due to the public nature of the offence and injury to an innocent bystander’.
He said it was pure luck that no one else was injured.
Graham will have to serve 80 per cent of his sentence because he was declared a serious violent offender.
Justice Wilson said the jury had determined from the evidence that Graham’s conduct manifested in an intent to kill.
“Your conduct exposed a large number of people to a real and present but also alien and entirely unexpected danger,” he said.
“It is right that your conduct should be sternly condemned.
“That said the consequences have been fortunately far less terrible.”
Defence barrister Tony Kimmins said Graham’s diagnosis of bipolar disorder in August last year would make his time in prison more difficult.
Graham’s lawyer had argued he acted in self-defence after Teamo pulled a knife on him.
But crown prosecutor Michael Byrne QC argued Graham’s actions went further than self-defence.
Graham was convicted of attempted murder and unlawful wounding. He was due to be sentenced on October 1, but the hearing was adjourned after revelations Graham had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
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