Anthony Yoon Sun Soong jailed for attempted murder of Big Brother contestant

A “dangerous” man, who shot a former Big Brother contestant, mistakenly believing he was his ex-lover’s new boyfriend, in an act a judge says was motivated by “extreme rage”, has been jailed.

A “DANGEROUS” man, who shot a stranger, mistakenly believing he was his ex-lover’s new boyfriend, has been jailed for 13 years for attempted murder.

In February, Anthony Yoon Sun Soong, 26, was found guilty of the attempted murder of Samuel Wallace, a former Big Brother contestant, at the Gold Coast in 2015.

Soong fired four shots into a jeep driven by Mr Wallace, with one bullet going through the door, passing through his right thigh and lodging in his left thigh.

Soong had planned the attack on Mr Wallace’s friend, Joshua Milani, who was in the jeep, because he was jealous that Mr Milani had slept with his ex-girlfriend, Jhai Saric.

But his bullet hit the wrong man, Mr Milani’s best mate, Mr Wallace, the Supreme Court in Brisbane heard.

Anthony Yoon Sun Soong has been jailed for 13 years.

“This was not a spontaneous act. It was carried out with great deliberation and as though you were a law unto yourself,” Justice Martin Burns said.

He said Soong attempted to kill someone he did not know, who was sitting in a car, defenceless.

Justice Burns said Soong’s sole motivation was “extreme rage” and some form of revenge against Mr Milani for sleeping with Ms Saric.

Soong had previous convictions for violent offences and Justice Burns said his prospects of rehabilitation were bleak.

“You are a singularly dangerous individual, capable of extreme violence, with little self-control,” Justice Burns said.

Earlier on the day that Soong shot Mr Wallace he had assaulted Ms Saric, who had recently ended her 12-month relationship with him.

In the preceding days he had sent her abusive texts and threatened Mr Milani, who agreed to meet Soong at a Gold Coast restaurant.

After Mr Wallace drove his friend to the restaurant carpark, Soong arrived and as Mr Milani went to get out of the car, Mr Wallace warned him that Soong had a gun.

After rapidly firing four shots into the car, as Mr Wallace attempted to drive off, Soong went up to the car window, held the gun to Mr Wallace’s head and pulled the trigger.

Sam Wallace was shot in the thigh by Anthony Yoon Sun Soong in a Gold Coast car park. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

Justice Burns said Mr Wallace heard a click, but the gun did not discharge because it was jammed or there were no more live rounds.

Soong then pistol-whipped Mr Wallace, who told him he had got the wrong guy, striking him three times in his forehead.

Justice Burns said it was likely Soong’s drug consumption played some part in his offending.

Soong was also sentenced to 18 months’ jail for burglary and 12 months’ jail for unlawful assault while armed, to be served concurrent with the 13 years for attempted murder.

Soong will have to serve 80 per cent of the 13-year sentence.

Justice Burns ordered that the 1255 days Soong had already spent in custody be counted as time served on his sentence.

Originally published as Anthony Yoon Sun Soong jailed for attempted murder of Big Brother contestant