A jealous ex-husband described as a “danger to the community” will spend at least a decade behind bars for the attempted murder of his love rival’s best friend in a botched midnight shooting at Unanderra last year.
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Jason Hans Speelman, 44, was found guilty in August of shooting the 38-year-old victim in the face at point blank range outside a house in Graham Street in the early hours of April 8, 2015.
The victim survived his wounds and gave evidence against Speelman during a five-day trial, telling the court the gun was about six centimeters from his face when the shot was fired.
The bullet entered the victim's right cheek and exited just below the base of his skull, but miraculously missed his brain and the major arteries.
Judge Andrew Haesler found Speelman had gone to the house that night intending to target his former friend Robert Fitzgerald, who was sleeping with Speelman's ex-wife.
However, Speelman instead shot Fitzgerald’s best friend after Fitzgerald locked himself inside the garage.
In sentencing Speelman on Friday to a maximum of 13 and a half years jail, Judge Haesler said it was clear a very serious crime was intended that night, even if the victim had not been the initial target and his shooting had been “relatively spontaneous”.
“Mr Speelman has demonstrated by this offence that he is a danger to the community,” he said.
“He has shown disdain for the requirements of living within society and obeying its rules.
“He must be removed from it for a substantial period of time.”
The sentence was backdated to when Speelman went into custody in April 2015. With time served, he can apply for parole in 2025.