Diamond triple-000 call heard in NSW court

Olympic shooter Michael Diamond has faced court over drink-driving and weapons offences.

Australian Olympic shooter Michael Diamond

Olympic shooter Michael Diamond has arrived at a NSW court where he's facing drink-driving charges. (AAP)

In a triple-zero phone call to police, the brother of Olympic shooter Michael Diamond said he was threatened by the alcohol-affected gold medallist before he drove away with a gun in his car.

"My brother has been threatening me ... he's just jumped in his car, he's had alcohol", John Diamond says in the recording that was played to Raymond Terrace Local Court on Wednesday.

"He's just put his shotgun in the back of his car."

Michael Diamond has pleaded not guilty to four charges relating to driving under the influence and gun and ammunition storage in May 2016.

The six-time Olympian blew three times over the limit after being found near his car, which he denies ever driving, in the Shoal Bay area, police say.

In the back of the car, police say they found a shotgun in an unlocked case and about 110 loose shotgun shells "rolling around" in the back seat.

Senior Constable Damian Cullen told the court he and a colleague found Diamond standing a few metres from his car in Shoal Bay, on May 21, where he refused a breath test.

Diamond told police he had not been driving the car, and that it had been parked there all day, Const Cullen said.

But Sergeant Ian Allwood told the court Diamond's car was warm when he arrived at the scene soon after Const Cullen and his partner.

"You could feel the warmth coming from the bonnet area of the car," Sgt Allwood said.

The Olympian later blew three times over the limit, according to police, but Diamond's lawyers have disputed the time frame in which he was tested for alcohol and the validity of the vehicle search.

The accused remains stripped of his gun licence and missed out on what would have been his seventh Olympic Games in Rio last year.


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Source: AAP


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