Norlane dad Simon Gatt Sr admits trying to pressure son after dispute led to shooting
A Norlane father who shot his own son during a struggle outside a home in Geelong’s north last year has admitted he tried to force the victim into taking the fall for the incident.
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A father who accidentally shot his son during an altercation outside their Norlane home later tried to pressure the victim into telling police he shot himself.
Simon Gatt Sr, 53, was in possession of a shotgun when the weapon discharged while he grappled with his son on Taroonga Ct last year.
The 20-year-old victim was rushed to hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound to the leg that required surgery to remove more than 40 pieces of shrapnel.
The County Court heard Gatt Sr was arrested days after the shooting and made a series of phone calls from prison in a bid to get his son to take responsibility for his injuries.
Gatt Sr pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges including recklessly causing injury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The pleas came days after the former mechanic was found guilty of unrelated charges stemming from a violent incident in Belmont early last year.
Prosecutor Daryl Brown told the court the shooting happened shortly after 10pm on July 31, 2020.
Tension had been brewing prior to the incident over Gatt Sr’s concern that his son, Simon Gatt Jr, was associating with a 14-year-old girl.
The court heard the victim had returned to the family’s home when an argument erupted with his father outside the property.
Gatt Sr, who was demanding his son leave the address, emerged from the home with a bag containing a shotgun.
The pair continued to argue and started grappling with each other.
During the struggle, the firearm discharged and the victim was shot in the thigh, the court heard.
Another man drove him to Geelong hospital’s emergency department where he was admitted and had surgery.
The victim initially told police he was shot during a clash with three unknown males near Geelong’s waterfront, but recanted his story days later and said he was injured in the struggle with his father.
After being charged, Gatt Sr made calls from prison in an attempt to get his son and another witness to change their statements.
In one call to his daughter, Gatt Sr said: “I don’t know what he is going to say but all I know is he is going to say he shot himself.”
He also told a friend: “Please f---ing do this for me … I got to get out of this f---ing s--thole.”
Gatt Sr will be sentenced next week.
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Originally published as Norlane dad Simon Gatt Sr admits trying to pressure son after dispute led to shooting
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