A NSW man who shot and killed his best mate before turning the gun on himself obtained the weapon under the guise of using it for an Anzac Day event, an inquest has heard.
Peter Junghans, 30, killed Matthew Thomas, 31, on the evening of April 25 in 2013 at Mr Thomas' mother's home in Westleigh in Sydney's northwest.
At an inquest into their deaths, counsel assisting Emma Sullivan said Junghans committed the act because he believed Mr Thomas dobbed him in to police for growing and selling cannabis.
Junghans shot his high school mate through the cheek and chest before putting the gun to his own head.
He borrowed two .303 calibre bolt-action rifles from a family friend, saying they were for an Anzac Day shooting competition that weekend, Ms Sullivan said.
Junghans was facing up to five years in jail for drug charges related to a large hydroponic drug set-up discovered by police at his father's home, the inquest heard.
Ms Sullivan said Junghans was depressed and paranoid to the point of being suicidal over the charges.
"Junghans was also very concerned about the impact it would have on his father's business," she told the inquest at Glebe Coroners Court.
The day after the shooting, police found a noose in Junghans' bedroom and a note that read: "Don't come in, I'm dead".
"This clearly indicates that ... Mr Junghans' suicidal intent had, at least on one occasion, crystallised into a plan," Ms Sullivan said.
Ms Sullivan said Junghans firmly believed Mr Thomas had tipped off police about his drug dealings.
But in fact police had been observing Junghans for months. Mr Thomas was not known to police as a source or informant.
Mr Thomas's mother Louise Thomas was present at the inquest and at times shed tears over her lost son.
* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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