A Helensburgh man shot at his wife of 37 years three times because he thought she was having an affair, Wollongong Bail Court heard on Thursday.
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Kenneth Norman Smith, 59, appeared in bail court charged with discharging a firearm with an intent to commit grievous bodily harm.
On January 5, Smith - who is a "chronic alcoholic" according to the facts, was driven to a doctor's appointment by his wife at 11am.
After returning home, he allegedly began drinking vodka lemonade.
An owner of a shotgun and air rifle, Smith was allegedly angry about receiving a letter saying his firearms licence would not be renewed.
To get out of the house, his wife went shopping and when she returned, she took some groceries to the top of the stairs where she allegedly saw him sitting on a lounge and pointing the air rifle at her.
He then allegedly fired a shot at her and his wife screamed "What the hell are you doing? Trying to shoot me?"
He replied by saying "you have been meeting a man or woman up the road".
Smith allegedly fired again and, while he reloaded, his wife ran outside.
A short while later she returned with more groceries and police claim he fired at her a third time.
When she threatened to call police he allegedly replied "if you do that, it will be the last thing you will do".
When police arrived they seized both weapons and allegedly found air rifle slugs close to the lounge Smith was sitting on.
In bail court police prosecutor Sergeant Tanya Pavlin opposed bail, stating the offence carried with it a maximum of 25 years in jail.
"He is said to have fired directly at the victim on a number of occasions," Sgt Pavlin said.
She had concerns about his "unpredictable nature" and that he made threats and then carried them out.
Defence solicitor Claire Carpenter said Smith needed to be out on bail due to his "numerous health issues", which included the lung condition sarcoidosis.
"The court can't have any confidence that he will receive these medications in custody," Ms Carpenter said.
She said, with his guns seized by police, Smith posed no threat to the victim due to his limited mobility.
Ms Carpenter also noted Smith had "no criminal record whatsoever" and that his son had agreed to let him stay at his house, as well as providing a surety of $500.
The registrar refused bail, saying there were no conditions that could be put in place to avoid the risk of endangering the victim or committing further serious offences.
Smith was remanded in custody and will reappear at Wollongong Local Court on January 11.
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