Canberra man jailed for shooting victim in face to 'exact retribution'

Bradley John Wilson will spend more than two years in jail for a brutal shotgun attack that seriously injured a man's face and shoulder. The ACT Supreme Court sentenced the 26-year-old to two years and nine months, with a non-parole period of 18 months. He will be eligible for parole from March 2027, factoring in time already served.

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exact retribution

Wilson used a homemade shotgun to shoot the victim at close range in March last year. The court heard his motive was to "exact retribution" after believing the victim had been intimate with his girlfriend. His then-girlfriend lured the victim to a Lyneham home under the guise of buying drugs, according to court testimony.

The attack occurred on the same day Wilson was released from custody for other offenses. Justice Andrew Muller noted that Wilson's actions were linked to "extreme and profound" grief following his mother's death in a car accident during his childhood. The judge accepted Wilson's remorse, despite some skepticism from prosecutors.

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extreme and profound

Wilson's sentence was extended by six months due to his offending while under two separate good behavior orders. He pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm and joint commission of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

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prolonged grief disorder