![VERDICT: Michael Diamond outside Raymond Terrace courthouse. VERDICT: Michael Diamond outside Raymond Terrace courthouse.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/v6ZqFubQfSczSV22Th78nc/cdbc479c-309c-4adc-ad13-61c5371d8677.JPG/r283_739_2422_2397_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
MICHAEL Diamond – one of Australia’s most decorated competitive shooters – has been banned from holding a gun license for 10 years after he was found guilty of high-range drink driving and firearm offences in Raymond Terrace Local Court on Thursday.
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The six-time Olympian, 44, who missed out on selection for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which stemmed from a “domestic incident” at his brother’s Nelson Bay home in May last year.
But after a three-day hearing in Raymond Terrace Local Court, Magistrate Caleb Franklin delivered a detailed verdict, finding Diamond guilty of all four offences, including high-range drink driving, not keeping a firearm safely, handling or using a firearm under the influence of alcohol and holder of a category A or B license not having approved storage.
Diamond was convicted, placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond, banned from using a firearm for 10 years and disqualified from driving for six months.
The decision could mean the end of his competitive shooting career, which was highlighted by two Olympic trap shooting gold medals.
After the verdict, Diamond offered a “no comment” when asked by waiting media how he was feeling.
![John Diamond John Diamond](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/v6ZqFubQfSczSV22Th78nc/96c9b517-3794-433e-b1a0-0927a8bea3eb.JPG/r0_0_2448_3264_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Diamond was “drunk” and playing loud music when he and his older brother, John Diamond, started arguing about 9pm on May 21 last year.
“I rang the police and he grabbed his shotgun, which was behind my couch, and he jumped in the car and took off,” John Diamond told the court.
Police later found Michael Diamond out of his car on Shoal Bay Road.
A search of the vehicle revealed a dissembled gun in its case and ammunition loose in the car, the court heard. He was later breath-tested and returned a reading of 0.159. But the defence case was that the breath-test was conducted outside the prescribed two-hour period from when he is alleged to have driven the vehicle. They also claimed the search of his car was illegal.
But after hearing three days of evidence – including two days this week – Mr Franklin found Michael Diamond guilty of all four offences.
Michael Diamond’s legal team had pushed for him to avoid a conviction, citing the impact it would have on his life. The charges had initially resulted in a suspension of Michael Diamond’s firearm license and his legal team had worked to expedite a hearing to clear his name before the team selection for the Olympic games in Rio.
But Mr Franklin denied the application in June last year and Diamond’s hopes of competing were dashed completely when Shooting Australia decided not to nominate him for selection a few weeks later.