By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A NARRE WARREN North man, accused of keeping a shotgun under his mattress and being part of a car-stealing “syndicate”, has been granted bail.
Jason Milledge, 22, had been on bail when police allegedly found the gun with the accused’s passport under his bedroom mattress as well as four rounds of matching cartridge ammunition during a Narre Warren North property raid on 20 May.
A stolen $42,000 Commodore, two suspected-stolen V8 engines fitted into other Commodores, a small amount of ice and balaclavas were also allegedly found at the premises, a court was told on 30 May.
Mr Milledge, supported by a large group of friends and family in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court, denied owning the gun – which is awaiting forensic DNA-tests.
The shotgun had allegedly been used in a shooting on 17 April 2015, police informant Detective Senior Constable Andrew Walker of Casey CIU told the court.
Mr Milledge had past arguments with the shooting victim but had not been charged over the shooting. Investigations of the incident were ongoing, Det Sen Const Walker said.
The court was told a man named ‘Kasper’ had phoned the informant after the raid to “put my hand up for the gun”.
The man was willing to come to Narre Warren Police Station but had not yet been interviewed by police, the informant said.
“I asked him for more information, times and dates. He couldn’t provide those details,” Det Sen Const Walker said.
Mr Milledge was believed to be part of a “syndicate” dealing in stolen cars and parts – based on the raid’s discoveries – but investigations were ongoing, Det Sen Const Walker said.
Mr Milledge’s lawyer said several people, including ‘Kasper’, had been “coming and going” in the bedroom where the gun was found.
On the day of the raid, Mr Milledge was staying elsewhere. He had his property boxed up, ready to be moved to his girlfriend’s home, the defence lawyer told the court.
The accused had admitted to driving the stolen Commodore two days prior to the raid, the lawyer said.
Mr Milledge’s charges included being a prohibited person possessing a firearm, possessing cartridge ammunition without a licence, stealing a vehicle and committing an indictable offence on bail.
He was also charged over sending “menacing and threatening” text messages to a female in March.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said Mr Milledge was the “aggressor” in the texting.
Some of Mr Milledge’s communication to the victim – which included a picture of a firearm – was “rude, threatening and clearly harassing”, Mr Vandersteen said.
In granting bail, Mr Vandersteen noted Mr Milledge’s young age, lack of prior criminal history, his denials and partial admissions, a stable alternative address, an available job and the likely delays due to forensic testing of the gun.
“If you were charged with the shooting, I doubt you would be making this (bail) application.”
Mr Vandersteen said the prosecution case was strong: Mr Milledge may not have been living at the raided property at the time but he had been captured on CCTV driving there two days earlier.
Mr Milledge was bailed to a Berwick address, subject to CREDIT support bail conditions, a night curfew, and not contacting prosecution witnesses.
He must report to police three times a week, and inform police of any change of his mobile phone number.
Mr Milledge will next appear in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 30 June.
