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AAP
AAP
National
Luke Costin

Neighbour dispute ends in alleged murder

A 42-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to murdering a neighbour and injuring two others. (Mark Russell/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

An angry neighbour who shot three people, eight cars and into a child's bedroom told a police negotiator he wanted to keep going as he'd be jailed anyway, jurors have heard.

Bradley John Mark White, 42, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Byron Tonks and injuring two other people during a March 2020 shooting in Wyong on the NSW Central Coast.

One of the numerous bullets fired from White's home across Cutler Drive struck Mr Tonks as he sheltered with family in the front living room of his home, a Newcastle Supreme Court jury was told on Tuesday.

"I've been hit," the 20-year-old said, according to crown prosecutor Kate Ratcliffe.

Ms Ratcliffe said the Tonks family applied pressure to the wound but "they ran out of towels".

He lost consciousness and his family performed CPR as Mr White allegedly continued to fire his late father's bolt-action rifle and semi-automatic pistol at neighbourhood homes and cars.

With police, his family evacuated Mr Tonks through a hole cut into the backyard fence but he died of traumatic wounds to his lung, liver and kidney.

One officer spoke to White by phone during the shooting and urged him to stop firing.

"I was hoping to empty the last magazine," he is alleged to have said.

"You don't understand - it can't get any worse, I'm going to spend my life in jail."

White eventually agreed to drop his weapons and walk out onto the street, where he was arrested.

Jurors are expected to view White's interview with police, in which he allegedly stated his motive was his fury at a young neighbour laughing, revving his car and playing loud music in previous days.

When the neighbour wouldn't come out to fight, White said he poured petrol over the neighbour's car and lit it.

"He wouldn't fight me like a man - he wouldn't come over," White told police, Ms Ratcliffe alleged.

Other people in the street told him White was "crazy stupid" so he did it again, before he thought "f*** it - I'm just going to go hard".

"And that's when I went and got a gun and started shooting," the then-40-year-old said.

When asked who he was shooting at, he said "people", Ms Ratcliffe said.

Bullets entered homes across the street and next to White's duplex.

One house behind the shooter's home had a shot pass through a rear security door, a kitchen, a fridge, a child's bedroom and an adult's bedroom before the bullet bounced off a window at the front of the house.

Ms Ratcliffe said she anticipated White would defend the charges based on a claim of a mental impairment.

Two medical experts to give evidence at trial were split on whether White was suffering either a mood disorder or cognitive impairment at the time of the shooting that affected his ability to know right from wrong.

As well as Mr Tonks' murder, White is charged with two counts of shooting with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and four counts of shooting at a dwelling with reckless regard for the safety of people.

The defence has not had an opportunity to open. The trial resumes on Wednesday.

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