Lovely Banks man John Nelis sentenced over Chris ‘Legzy’ Jacobs shooting

A judge has lashed a Geelong man for fleeing instead of trying to save his so-called mate after fatally shooting the victim in the chest with a gun he didn’t know was loaded.

A drugged-up Lovely Banks father who went on the run after shooting a close mate without realising the gun was loaded has learned his fate.

John Nelis, 38, had taken GHB before shooting his friend Chris “Legzy” Jacobs in a bizarre incident in a Corio caravan in July 2020.

John Nelis has been jailed for a maximum of 11 years.

He’d arrived at the caravan in the early hours of the morning, when he saw the victim wearing a bulletproof vest.

Nelis asked the victim about the vest before pulling the double-barrelled shotgun from the bag and firing at Mr Jacobs in front of witnesses.

It’s understood the vest wasn’t fitted with ballistics panelling.

Justice Lex Lasry said Nelis was going to be sentenced on the basis he had pulled the trigger without knowing the gun was loaded.

“A life was lost as the result of your criminal negligence,” he said.

“This death was not only tragic, but totally avoidable.”

Nelis was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of eight years and 584 days reckoned as time already served.

Shooting victim Chris Jacobs with his beloved German Shepherd, Phoenix.

It’s believed he’d gone to the caravan intending to sell or give the gun to the victim.

Mr Jacobs, who had been shot in the chest and abdomen, collapsed to the floor.

Nelis ran to the victim, asked if he was all right and reportedly said: “I didn’t know it was full … It wasn’t meant to be loaded.”

A witness called an ambulance but Mr Jacobs died a short time later.

Part of Chaffey Square was still taped off in the aftermath of the shooting. Picture: Alan Barber

Corio Stabbing

The court heard Nelis fled the scene and remained on the run for 20 days before turning himself into Geelong police station.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Nelis checked the property surrounding the caravan for CCTV, disposed of the gun, visited family and consumed GHB with the associates.

“Having fired the fatal shot and realising Mr Jacobs was in real trouble, you did nothing to assist him,” Justice Lasry said.

“Your indifference to Mr Jacobs welfare and desire to protect yourself does you no credit.”

Nelis was initially charged with murder before pleading guilty to negligent manslaughter.

The house where the shooting took place. Picture: Alan Barber

Corio SES volunteers helped sweep the area in a bid to help track the shooter. Picture: Alan Barber

The court heard the defendant’s childhood had been impacted by “violence and instability” and he’d long struggled with drugs and alcohol.

“Drugs are ruining your life, and will continue to do so unless you defeat the addiction,” Justice Lasry said.

The court heard Nelis had previously been convicted of firearms charges.

Justice Lasry made note of early attempts to plead guilty to negligent manslaughter and accepted Nelis felt remorse.

Victim impact statements submitted to the court said Mr Jacobs had been “loved by many”.

“Your actions have caused a devastating impact on the people closest to Mr Jacobs,” Justice Lasry said.

Originally published as Lovely Banks man John Nelis sentenced over Chris ‘Legzy’ Jacobs shooting