Justin Talbot admits to shooting man in knee during violent home invasion

A bikie searching for an alleged motorbike burglar shot an unrelated man in the leg when he couldn’t help the Rebels member find the thief.

A man has been left wheelchair bound after a Rebels bikie shot him in the knee during a violent home invasion, a court has heard.

Justin Talbot, 32, appeared in the County Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to home invasion and intentionally causing injury during a Grand Final Day shooting in 2019.

The court heard the incident was sparked by the theft of a Suzuki motorcycle and Talbot had been enlisted to confront one of the suspected thieves.

On September 29, the victim, 45, had travelled from his Footscray home to visit friends in Bendigo.

Two of the friends went to bed after sharing a few drinks, while the victim stayed up with one other friend.

The court heard the victim was sitting on the couch in the lounge room when he saw a person peering under the curtain, before two “aggressive” men rushed through the back door.

They let the third man into the house, as one — later identified to be Talbot — brandished a single barrel sawn-off shotgun.

Prosecutor David Cordy said it was the prosecution’s case the offenders were looking for the person suspected of stealing the bike, named Luke, as he was expected to be there that night.

Talbot repeatedly asked where Luke was and when the victim said he didn’t know, the barrel of the gun was pressed against his forehead and the question repeated.

Justin Talbot pleaded guilty to a violent home invasion and shooting in Bendigo in 2019

Talbot’s lawyer said his client had had a traumatic childhood.

Talbot then “cracked him on the head with the butt of the gun” as the co-offenders searched the house and rummaged through cabinets, the court was told, as Talbot continued asking where Luke was as he had stolen a motorcycle.

Several minutes later he approached the victim, who was still seated on the couch, pointed the gun to his right knee and pulled the trigger.

All three offenders then fled.

The court was told the victim was transported to a Melbourne hospital for surgery to remove shotgun pellets and a cartridge from his knee.

Today he remains wheelchair bound, has not been able to return to work and his mental health has declined as a result.

Mr Cordy detailed evidence to the court, including incriminating text messages intercepted by investigators, in which Talbot referred to the shooting.

The Rebels member, who was arrested on April 15, 2020, has a criminal history and has served time in prison for violent offending in the past, the court heard.

Talbot’s lawyer, barrister Sam Tovey, submitted his client had had a traumatic childhood and this had impacted his decision making and impulsivity.

Mr Tovey added shooting the victim was “spontaneous”, but his client accepted going to the house was “something he just did not need to involve himself in in anyway”.

He said the father of two, who had completed an apprenticeship in plastering, had been working on his rehabilitation and mental health issues and had been part of a group of prisoners who had been pushing for a parenting course to be made available.

He added his client’s time in custody had been “burdensome” due to the pandemic and the judge should take that into account in sentencing.

But Mr Cordy said the offending was “alarming”.

“Any right thinking member of the community would be alarmed that this could happen in this country.”

Talbot will be sentenced next week.