Jason Joshua Shepherd granted bail in Townsville Magistrates Court after gel blaster revenge scare

The older brother of a young man who was killed in an alleged hit and run has been released from custody to attend the funeral after he tried to get his revenge on someone allegedly involved.

Man granted bail after gel blaster revenge scare. Image: stock photo

A man was arrested and taken into custody after he knelt down armed with a gel blaster in the front yard of another man’s home in an act of revenge, a court has heard.

Jason Joshua Shepherd appeared in Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday and applied for bail in hopes to be let out in time to attend the funeral of his younger brother who was killed in an alleged hit and run.

Defence lawyer Fleur Lettice from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services said her client was on bail for charges of common assault, possessing property connected to drugs, obstructing police and assault occasioning bodily harm at the time of his most recent offending.

The police prosecutor however, officially dismissed Mr Shepherd of one count of assault occasioning bodily harm.

“An urgent bail request was made under sad circumstances,” Ms Lettice said.

“My client’s younger brother was recently killed in a hit and run accident, he was the young gentleman on a motorbike in Hermit Park.

“My client comes before court for going armed in relation to the person who was in the vehicle who hit and killed his brother.”

Magistrate Peter Smid, interjected, “Well it’s still not the right thing to do”.

Ms Lettice said her client was at risk of spending too much time behind bars if bail was rejected, and confirmed the man involved had been charged by police for his involvement in the alleged hit and run however it hadn’t been finalised.

“He attended the residence with a gel blaster, it wasn’t a real gun but it was sufficiently realistic to provoke fear in the victim,” she said.

Magistrate Smid said it would not have been “comforting” to the man despite it not being a real gun.

“It’s said the victim observed a male adult taking a firing position on his knee raising the weapon at the victim, anyone might die from a heart attack,” he said.

Ms Lettice added that the funeral for Mr Shepherd’s brother was to be held in upcoming weeks, and he was hoping to be released to attend.

Magistrate Smith took into account the family and cultural importance of attending the funeral when making his decision.

“I think it’s a serious case of going armed but in the circumstances on the balance, I’ll grant him bail,” he said.

Mr Shepherd was granted bail on the basis he doesn’t attend the alleged victim’s residence or make contact with him.

His matters were adjourned to May 28 in Townsville Magistrates Court.

Originally published as Jason Joshua Shepherd granted bail in Townsville Magistrates Court after gel blaster revenge scare