For one woman fearing for her life, pleading self-protection proved not enough to save her from being convicted of having an unregistered gun.
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Griffith's Julie Vereker, 60, was before Griffith Local Court on Wednesday charged with possessing an unauthorised, prohibited and unregistered firearm and keeping it in an unsafe place.
On September 2 last year police were called to an incident on Foreshaw Avenue. They were informed there may be a firearm in the house before they went out to investigate.
Facts tendered to court say Integrated Licensing System checks were completed over police radio which revealed that the residents may have access to a firearm.
When officers spoke to Veneker and asked if she had a gun, she said "yes, I have one in my room."
She led police to the bedroom where she produced a shoe box from underneath the bed, containing a shortened black Interarms 22/250 rifle.
Vereker told police she didn't hand it in during the gun amnesty because she "didn't want to get anyone in trouble".
Represented by Piers Blomfield, he began by saying the case was "a difficult one."
He said Vereker was 60 years old and without a "single blemish" on her record, and believed having the gun was for her protection.
Explaining she had previously been in an abusive relationship, the gun was given to Vereker for her safety.
He submitted a Community Correction Order without supervision given her history.
This was vehemently rejected by Magistrate Boulos, who outlined the Firearms Act and the underlying reasons why such stringent conditions were in place, such as the overriding responsibility to public safety.
She also noted that 'self-defense' was not a demonstrated genuine reason for being able to hold a firearm licence in Australia.
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"I accept that she is 60 years of age, with this the first time on an unblemished record, but the facts are clear," she said.
While she said she accepted Vereker was in a previously violent relationship in the past, she said there were other avenues to go through for protection of this kind, such as taking out an AVO.
"She needs protection not prosecution - I don't argue with that."
Ms Boulos recorded three convictions for the charges, and instead of a jail term have Vereker a Community Corrections Order for 12 months.
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