Judge lashes gun violence, denies alleged gunslinger bail
A St Albans footballer has copped the wrath of a magistrate, who remanded him in custody after an arsenal of homemade weapons were allegedly found at his house.
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A St Albans footballer was allegedly caught with an arsenal of illegal homemade guns capable of being disguised as plumbing parts, a court has heard.
Josh Williams, 24, faced the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on January 15 after he was charged with several offences including possessing a trafficable quantity of firearms.
Police raided Williams’ Taylors Hill home last September and allegedly seized five homemade firearms.
Police allege three of the firearms were loaded with .32 calibre ammunition, while another “looked like a handgun”.
A firearms expert deemed the guns to be “capable of discharge”, the court heard.
The expert also said the other two guns would be capable of discharge after minor adjustments.
Police also allegedly seized ammunition, meth, tools and spare gun parts which resembled “plumbing parts”.
Williams – who police allege was “argumentative and uncooperative” – was arrested, charged and remanded.
The court heard Williams – a panel beater and St Albans footballer – had a “14-page” criminal history which included drugs and weapons charges.
Williams copped the wrath of Magistrate Mike Wardell after seeking a sentencing indication.
“.32 is a significant calibre firearm,” Magistrate Wardell said.
“In the last 18 months newspapers have reported regularly on gun violence … it’s reminiscent of the early 2000s.
“The propensity of firearms is alarming … (illegal guns) potentially have lethal consequences.”
Magistrate Wardell said the fact the guns could be “disguised” as plumbing parts placed them in an “even more fearsome category”.
“(The guns) can be easily concealed with sinister consequences,” he said.
“(This offending) is in the most serious of categories.
“The community has an expectation courts will deal with this type of offending in the most serious of fashions.”
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The matter was briefly stood down after Magistrate Wardell indicated Williams may be facing a maximum 30 months in jail with a non-parole period of 18 months.
A charge of gun manufacturing was later withdrawn.
Williams was remanded in custody to face court on February 10.