THE victim of a North Albury shooting has limped into court, heavily dosed up on strong painkillers with a bullet still in his leg, after himself being charged with serious offences.
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Justin Blake Smith, 39, has been charged with indoor cannabis cultivation, for commercial purposes, after discharging himself from hospital.
The North Albury man was shot inside his Hicks Place home last Saturday, with three men arrested over the incident.
Smith presented himself to Albury Police Station and was charged with growing cannabis, stealing electricity, possessing a crossbow and multiple counts of receiving stolen property.
It’s alleged he was found with a stolen motorbike and multiple push bikes.
He had also been arrested in December after being caught with a loaded air pistol, bolt cutters, vice grips and fuel can near his home.
In November 2018, he was convicted of drug and weapon possession.
Smith appeared to wince as he entered Albury Local Court on Friday, his hand bandaged where the bullet had passed through.
Lawyer Sue Robey said his health was “unstable” and applied for her client to be released.
She said those charged with the shooting would be housed in the same jail as Smith, which was risky.
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“It will directly impact his safety, were he to be remanded,” Mr Robey said.
She said it would be hard for Smith to continue his treatment behind bars.
Because Smith was on a corrections order when he was arrested, he had to show why his detention was not justified.
Magistrate Rodney Brender denied bail, leading to a woman in the court becoming distressed.
“You’ll be all right baby,” Smith said as he was led back to the cells.
“You’ll be OK.”
Mr Brender said prisons had the ability to separate people.
The matter will return to court on March 12.
Clinton Thomas Boswell, Stephen William Evans and Matthew John Groves are facing charges relating to the shooting.
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