Rockhampton man jailed over racist shootings

From the ABC:

Rockhampton man jailed over Aboriginal shootings
Posted Fri Oct 26, 2007

A 19-year-old Rockhampton man has been sentenced to two years’ jail for his role in a racially motivated shooting last year.

On Australia Day last year, Hayden John Nitz and his four co-accused drove around Rockhampton, in central Queensland, shooting at members of the Aboriginal community with a slug gun.


The court heard Nitz shot at three people in separate locations, striking a 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl. Both needed medical attention.

Judge David Serle said the event was reminiscent of Alabama in the 1960s and not Australia in 2007, and a general deterrent needed to be set.

Nitz pleaded guilty to numerous offences and was sentenced to two years imprisonment with a parole date of June next year.

His four co-accused were sentenced to between six and nine months jail, to be served as an intensive correction order.

News brief · 26 October 2007