Jury retires in Qld cop shooter's trial

A Brisbane jury has retired to consider the fate of a man accused of attempting to murder a Gold Coast police officer.

A jury has retired to consider whether a Gold Coast man who shot a police officer in the face is guilty of attempted murder.

Jurors in the Brisbane Supreme Court trial of Robert George Speedy, 49, retired just before 12.30pm on Wednesday, the seventh day of the hearing.

Speedy is accused of trying to kill dog squad officer Gary Hamrey while on the run after holding up the Arundel Tavern and stealing more than $40,000.

Speedy has pleaded guilty to three counts of armed robbery but not guilty to attempted murder.

The trial has heard he shot Sgt Hamrey in the cheek from close range with a .22 rifle after police cornered him and an accomplice in a Parkwood backyard in the early hours of September 27, 2013.

Officers had tracked the duo through suburban streets for more than 90 minutes.

Defence lawyer Rob East argued on Tuesday that Speedy did not intend to kill Sgt Hamrey and may have shot at the officer's lit torch in a panicked bid to escape.

But Crown prosecutor Phil McCarthy said the logical conclusion was that Speedy shot to kill Sgt Hamrey in an attempt to avoid arrest.

Justice Ann Lyons told jurors that if they found Speedy not guilty of attempted murder, they must consider the alternative charge of committing a malicious act with intent.


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Source: AAP



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