Mark Tyran Laurie pleads guilty after threatening to shoot man

A Sunshine Coast holiday park turned terrifying when a drunken man pointed a shotgun at a resident’s face and threatened to kill him.

Maroochydore Court House (AAPImage/David Clark)

A 42-year-old man has been sentenced after drunkenly pointing a shotgun at another man’s face in a threatening incident at a Woombye holiday park earlier this year.

Mark Tyran Laurie pleaded guilty at Maroochydore District Court on Thursday to four charges including threatening violence at night, public nuisance, obstructing police, and the unlawful possession of a category A weapon.

The court heard Laurie, a father-of-three, was staying at the Sunshine Coast hinterland holiday park on January 18, 2024, when police were called to respond to a disturbance caused by his drunken state.

Before police arrived, a holiday park resident stepped outside to investigate the commotion and found Laurie seated on his front porch casually smoking a cigarette.

“He asked him what he was doing there,” Crown Prosecutor Rhys Byrne said.

“He was repeatedly asked to leave, but he didn’t.”

Maroochydore Courthouse. (AAP Image/David Clark)

The resident noticed Laurie had a rifle concealed between his legs and urged him to leave, pointing out there were children inside the cabin.

“(Laurie) mumbled, ‘I’ll kill these people, I’ll kill them’,” Mr Byrne said.

“He was getting louder, and louder.”

Mr Byrne said Laurie then raised the gun, aiming it at the resident’s face. When asked what he intended to do, Laurie said, “I’m going to shoot you if you keep talking to me. I’ll kill everyone”.

The victim retreated inside, locked the door, and called police. When officers arrived, Laurie resisted arrest.

The court heard Laurie had prior convictions, including assaulting police officers, and was on a suspended sentence for threatening a man with a metal bar during a late-night incident in South Brisbane.

Laurie’s barrister, Mark Dixon, said his client’s actions stemmed from alcohol abuse, triggered by the loss of his long-term partner to cancer and other family issues.

He said when faced with severe stress, Laurie had often turned to alcohol, which is when he had gotten into trouble.

Judge Glen Cash acknowledged Laurie’s struggles but said the offence was serious.

Laurie was given a head sentence of six months in prison, to be released immediately with the 307 days already served.

He was released on parole for six months and placed on 12 months of probation to ensure supervision upon his release.

Originally published as Mark Tyran Laurie pleads guilty after threatening to shoot man