Justin Talbot sentenced for shooting man in knee during violent home invasion

A drugged-up bikie searching for a motorbike thief will spend years behind bars after he shot an “innocent man” in the kneecap.

A Bendigo bikie will spend several more years behind bars after being sentenced for shooting an “innocent victim” in the knee during a violent home invasion.

County Court Judge Michael O’Connell handed down his sentence for the “careless and brutal act” on Tuesday morning.

It came after Justin Michael Talbot, 32, last week pleaded guilty to home invasion and intentionally causing injury during an AFL Grand Final Day shooting in 2019.

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

On September 29, the victim, aged 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.

Bendigo Rebels member Justin Talbot.

Talbot will spend several more years behind bars.

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.

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 and the victim was taken to a Melbourne hospital for surgery to remove shotgun pellets and a cartridge from his knee.

Today he remains wheelchair-bound and unable to walk — he has not been able to return to work, he can’t dress himself or carry out housework or shopping or do any of the outdoor activities he once enjoyed.

Judge O’Connell said the injury made “every day a challenge” for him, and he would bear the disability for the remainder of his life.

The Rebels member, who was arrested on April 15, 2020, had a prior criminal history and previously served time in prison for violent offending.

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

But 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.

On Tuesday Judge O’Connell said the victim was “very much innocent” and had no knowledge of the motorcycle or what had happened to it.

He did not accept Talbot was influenced by psychological conditions but rather, that his actions were influenced by the MDMA, meth and alcohol he had consumed that day.

“This was a careless and brutal act that has had catastrophic consequences for a man who posed no threat to you whatsoever,” Judge O’Connell said.

“You had plenty of time to pause, reflect and desist before you shot (him).”

He sentenced Talbot to eight years in prison with a non-parole period of five years and six months.