A Brisbane man who was restoring a 100-year-old gun which accidentally fired and killed his mother has been granted bail.
Police charged Cristian Lawlor, 22, with the manslaughter of Giustina Lawlor earlier this month, after a .22 calibre rifle fatally wounded her at their Taigum home.
It is alleged Mr Lawlor left the loaded and partially disassembled weapon inside a bag, when his 53-year-old mother unwittingly moved it and it fired, striking her in the heart.
In a part-heard bail hearing in the Supreme Court in Brisbane, his lawyer James Godbolt told the court police assertions that he was obsessed with the gun was a "gross overstatement".
"His interest in the firearm is one of restoration — it being an old object that he admittedly had and took interest in," Mr Godbolt told the court.
Tinkering with gun an 'escape'
In a recorded police interview conducted after his mother's death, Mr Lawlor told detectives tinkering with the gun was his "escape".
"It was something I enjoyed."
In the video, Mr Lawlor admitted to detectives the gun was loaded with one bullet, but he denied leaving it in the room where it was found and his mother was shot.
He also denied it was left in a manner in which it could accidentally discharge and was adamant it would require multiple steps, including pulling the trigger.
"It was never left in that state whatsoever," he said.
The court heard the gun was about 100 years old, with an "old-style" firing pin, which remained in a locked position.
It also heard the bag was moved to a different room than where Mr Lawlor said he left it when it discharged.
Earlier this week, the court heard before his mother's death, Mr Lawlor had been suffering from paranoia due to a recent drug relapse, and he had previously shot the firearm multiple times in a public park.
On Friday, Mr Godbolt told the court his client had no criminal history and no history of mental ill-health.
Continuing to oppose his bail, prosecutor Rana Aldas told the court his "attitude" towards firearms and public conduct made him an unacceptable risk.
"Also to the safety of people in the general community," she said.
Justice Soraya Ryan granted him bail on strict conditions, including he attend rehabilitation and actively participate in the program.
He was also ordered to abstain from drugs and alcohol, including at his mother's wake, which he will be allowed to attend escorted.
