leftdriving his yellow Volvo sedan and carrying with him at that time the AR15 semi-automatic.223 calibre rifle and FN, commonly called an SLR military style semi-automatic .308 calibrerifle and a semi-automatic Daiwoo twelve gauge shotgun

, Miss PetraWilmott. She was employed. After a short time of being employed by Bryant, Miss Wilmottbecame friendly with him, ceased working for him and then started to go out with him on aregular basis and often stayed overnight at his house. She stayed at his house for foursuccessive nights up to and including the 27th April 1996,Page 56.the night before Bryant committed these crimes.

On the 28th of April, Martin Bryant, who was born on the 7th May 1967, had been living at30 Claire Street, New Town, for a number of years having obtained ownership of thatproperty on the death of its previous owner, Miss Helen Harvey. On her death on the 20thOctober 1992, Bryant inherited her estate which included a share in the profits of the estate ofthe late George Adams, the founder of the Tattersall’s lotteries and he also of course acquireda sole interest in the house in Clare street. Insofar that this is relevant, further comment willbe made about this aspect of Bryant’s life later.

The Crown in this State is authorised to make submission on sentencing pursuant to Section386, sub-Sections 11 and 12 on the Criminal Code and I propose to follow that authorisation,particularly under Section 386, sub-Section 12B and C –

I will cover those events leading up to the first fatal shootings onthe 28th of April and through to the shooting of Mrs. Mikac and her two daughters on JettyRoad at Port Arthur.My junior, Mr. Perks, will then deal with Bryant’s actions from the Toll Booth at Port Arthurthrough to the siege and his arrest at Seascape the next morning. He will also cover thepolice interview of Bryant in early July, 1996, the video film of which will be played to theCourt. At the conclusion of the playing of that film I will then provide your Honour withVictim Impact details and background information on Bryant detailing information in mypossession and expert opinion obtained by my office which I will be submitting to assist yourHonour in the sentencing process.

October or November of 1993, purchased an AR10, also called an Armalite, semi-automatic rifle through a newspaper advertisement in Tasmania. In early 1996 he enquired atone gun shop about the purchase of a semi-automatic .233 rifle and at the same time hebought three rifle cases, one of them with a double carrying capacity. In February to April of1996, from another gun shop he purchased cleaning kits for a 30 calibre and a 12 gaugeshotgun. At about this time it is believed that he bought that semi-automatic shotgun. Helater was to tell police that that weapon, when firing, frightened him. On the 27th of March,1996 he bought the AR10 rifle into a gun shop for repair. At about 10.00 a.m. on the 23rd ofApril, 1996 he enquired at one gun shop in Hobart as to the availability of an AR15 semi-automatic weapon

gnificant violent act or series of acts culminating in his conduct in late April1996 is best illustrated by his conduct at gun shops in Hobart in the short period of timeleading up to this incident

arch of his house at Clarestreet after the shootings at Port Arthur revealed that he had hidden the firearms in the houseand had other weapons and ammunition concealed there in such a way that his girlfriend andother visitors would not be able to locate them. He was obviously stockpiling those weaponsand ammunition which had a disturbing killing efficiency.

any form of authorisation to possess or own those weapons.

His acts of preparation included buying a sports bag to conceal one of his weapons, he tookhandcuffs with him, rope and a hunting knife and three semi-automatic weapons and asignificant quantity of ammunition. He told some people he met on the way that he wasgoing surfing at Roaring Beach but on one occasion he let his guard slip and I will tell yourHonour about that later. He followed through a series of actions which culminated in ahostage and siege situation which had an air of pre-planning. He clearly intended to embarkupon violence and murderous conduct of the type to which he has pleaded guilty.

Yet, when he left the property on themorning of the 28th of April to travel to Port Arthur he left one semi-automatic firearm and asubstantial quantity of ammunition in the hallway of the house.

I say this because on the Crown case he had made preparations which were inconsistent withhis normal behaviour. He behaved deceptively to those close to him, as to his possession anduse of firearms.

He drove there in his Volvosedan which at the time had a surfboard placed on the roof racks on top of the car. TheCrown’s case is that at the outset of that journey he intended at least some form of violentconfrontation with Mr. And Mrs. Martin of the Seascape tourist accommodation facility atPort Arthur a

28th of April of this yea

Stating facts): Your Honour, Martin Bryant has pleaded guilty to allcounts in the indictment which was filed in this Court on the 5th of July.

MR. D. BUGG Q.C. andMR. N. PERKS

N THE CRIMINAL SITTINGS OF THE SUPREME COURT HELD AT NUMBER 7COURT, SALAMANCA PLACE, HOBART, BEFORE HIS HONOUR THE CHIEFJUSTICE, ON TUESDAY THE 19TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1996

self-loading centre fire rifles designed or adapted for military purposes or a firearm which substantially duplicates those rifles in design, function or appearance. * non-military style self-loading centre fire rifles with either an integral or detachable magazine; * self-loading shotguns with either an integral or detachable magazine and pump action shotguns with a capacity of more than 5 rounds; * self-loading rim-fire rifles with a magazine capacity greater than 10 rounds.

muzzle-loading firearms; * single shot, double barrel and repeating centre fire rifles; * break action shotguns/rifle combinations

air rifles; * rimfire rifles (excluding self-loading); * single and double barrel shotguns.

that jurisdictions recognise, for a period of no longer than 3 months, a category A or B firearm licence issued in another jurisdiction to an individual who moves permanently to a new jurisdiction for such an individual with a licence categories C, D and H, a period of recognition will not exceed 7 days.

be issued after a waiting period of not less than 28 days;

be aged 18 years or over; * be a fit and proper person; * be able to prove identity through a system similar to that required to open a bank account, that is, a 100 point system requiring a passport or multiple types of identification; and * undertake adequate safety training.

* no prohibited firearm may be included in a collection; * any attempt to restore firearms in the collection to usable condition should be regarded as a serious offence and subject to severe penalties; and

the firearms which are the subject of the collection should be of or above a defined age; * firearms in a collection which have been manufactured after 1 January 1946 must be rendered inoperable; * collectors may not possess ammunition for a collection firearm;

over and above satisfaction of the "genuine reason" test, an applicant for a licence for the categories B, C, D and H must demonstrate a genuine need

t personal protection not be regarded as a genuine reason for owning, possessing or using a firearm.

National Exchange of Police Information (NEPI)

New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania immediately establish an integrated licence and firearms registration system and that all other jurisdictions review their existing registration systems to ensure that all systems are compatible.

all jurisdictions ban competitive shooting involving those firearms banned or proposed to be banned from impor

police

(a) that all jurisdictions ban the sale, resale, transfer, ownership, possession, manufacture and use of those firearms banned or proposed to be banned from import other than in the exceptional circumstances listed

AUSTRALASIAN POLICE MINISTERS' COUNCIL

He stared at the body of a man lying on the floor, then looked up into the barrel of a semi-automatic rifle. He dived back out the door

ried to herd people who thought the gunshots were part of a historical re-enactment up the garden and out of range. He knew he couldn’t go back inside.

Bryant killed 12 people in 15 seconds.

Ian Kingston,

Hobart's Risdon Prison.

Characteristics: Revenge

Winifred Joyce Aplin (58) / Walter John Bennett (66) / Nicole Louise Burgess (17) / Sou Leng Chung (32) / Elva Rhonda Gaylard (48) / Zoe Anne Hall (28) / Elizabeth Jayne Howard (26) / Mary Elizabeth Howard (57) / Mervyn John Howard (55) / Ronald Noel Jary (71) / Tony Vadivelu Kistan (51) / Leslie Dennis Lever (53) / Sarah Kate Loughton (15) / David Martin (72) / Noelene Joyce Martin (69) / Pauline Virjeana Masters (49) / Alannah Louise Mikac (6) / Madeline Grace Mikac (3) / Nanette Patricia Mikac (36) / Andrew Bruce Mills (49) / Peter Brenton Nash (32) / Gwenda Joan Neander (67) / Moh Yee Willing Ng (48) / Anthony Nightingale (44) / Mary Rose Nixon (60) / Glen Roy Pears (35) / Russell James Pollard (72) / Janette Kathleen Quin (50) / Helene Maria Salzmann (50) / Robert Graham Salzmann (58) / Kate Elizabeth Scott (21) / Kevin Vincent Sharp (68) / Raymond John Sharp (67) / Royce William Thompson (59) / Jason Bernard Winter (29)

Martin John Bryant (born May 7, 1967)

police

that all jurisdictions ban the sale, resale, transfer, ownership, possession, manufacture and use of those firearms banned or proposed to be banned from import

10 MAY 1996

AUSTRALASIAN POLICE MINISTERS’ COUNCIL

you are sentenced to imprisonment for twenty-one yearsto be served concurrently with each other and with the concurrent sentences of life imprisonment alreadyimposed.In respect of each sentence of 21 years, I order that you likewise not be eligible for parole.Monday, March 21, 2016 10:49 am Page 4 of 4

MARTIN BRYANT - on each of the thirty-five counts of murder in this indictment you are sentenced toimprisonment for the term of your natural life.I order that you not be eligible for parole in respect of any such sentence.

belief that service of the whole ofsuch sentence is the minimum period of imprisonment which justice requires that he must serve having regardto all the circumstances of his offences, leads to the conclusion that he should be declared ineligible fo

have no reason to hope (otherwise) and every reason to fear that he willremain indefinitely as disturbed and insensitive as he was when planning and executing the crimes of whichhe now stands convicted. The protection of the community, in my opinion, requires that he serve fully thesentences which I will shortly impose.

cannot regard it as anything other than falling withinthe worst category of cases for which the maximum penalty is prescribed.

one in the back, killing him; and fired at groups of people seeking shelter in them or intheir vicinity. Here he killed another person and caused injuries to a further three. He then exchanged theArmalite rifle for a semi-automatic .308 FN rifle or SLR which was in the boot of his car parked nearby andfired across the water towards the ruins and back towards the cafe. Still in the car park, the prisoner killedtwo further visitors and by firing at them shots which, in some cases, connected, attempted to murder sixothers. From here he moved up the road in his car and en route encountered Mrs Mikac and her twodaughters, murdering all three in the heart rending circumstances

ut in the overall scheme of things, it is, in my view,overwhelmingly outweighed by the factors militating against him.

The prisoner has shown no remorse for his actions. Though he has ultimately pleaded guilty, it has clearlybeen done in recognition of the undoubted strength of the evidence against him and amounts to little morethan a case of bowing to the inevitable.

s which enabled him not only tocontemplate mass destruction, but to carry it through.

Nevertheless, he clearly has a mental condition which rendered him less capable than those of normal healthymind of appreciating the enormity of his conduct or its effect upon others. I accept the psychiatric evidencethat he is of limited intellectual ability, his measured IQ being in the borderline intellectually disabled range,but with a capacity to function reasonably well in the community. From an early age he has displayed severedevelopmental problems, being grossly disturbed from early childhood. Whatever its precise diagnosis as towhich the psychiatrists differ, he suffers from a significant personality disorde

e is not suffering from a mental illness - certainly not one which rendered him incapable ofknowing what he was doing or of knowing that what he was doing was wrong, or one by virtue of which hewas deprived of any power to resist an impulse to do the things he did. He knew what he was doing and thatit was something he ought not to do.

he gravity of the offence or offences;- the moral culpability of the offender so far as that lies within the limited province of humanassessment;- the effect upon the victims;- the need to protect society from similar conduct by others, or repetition of it by the offender himself;

Though no way comparable tothe human suffering endured by those directly affected, very considerable financial loss has also beenoccasioned to individuals and to the community at large. In the sentencing process, the impact upon thevictims of crime cannot be ignored. In this case more than any other I have ever experienced, they demandrecognition.

o doubt that will be acknowledged elsewhere. Suffice it to say that there weremany, many people who were severely affected by their distressing experiences and who will continue to beso affected for many years to come. It is proper to record also the anguish no doubt caused to the prisoner'smother and immediate family.

is selection ofvictims was indiscriminate. He killed and injured men, women and even children. He killed, or attempted tokill, local residents, visitors from other parts of this State, from other parts of Australia and visitors from anumber of overseas countries. He killed individual family members, married couples and, in one case, all themembers of one family save the bereaved father left to mourn them.

he prisoner, having had amurderous plan in contemplation and active preparation for some time,

injured conditiondue to burns, was apprehended.

The followingmorning he set fire to the house, destroying it completely

at sometime before his apprehension, he murdered Mr Pears by shooting him. Throughout the night he continued todischarge a number of weapons, his own arsenal augmented by weapons belonging to the Martins, and kept atbay the police who were surrounding the house, their response restricted by the belief that both the Martinsand Mr Pears could still be alive. Clearly the Martins were not alive at that stage, but the prisoner deceitfullyconveyed the impression that they were in telephone conversations with police negotiators

forced Mr Pears, whom he was treating as a hostage, to enter the house,placed handcuffs on his wrists and immobilised him by attaching a second set of handcuffs to the first andsome fixture in the premises

Pears attempted to intervene, he was forced into the boot of the prisoner'sstolen vehicle.

At the toll booth he murdered the four occupants of a BMW, pulling the two female passengers seated in itfrom the car and shooting them at close range. He then commandeered the car, transferring from his own carsome of the items in it, including the AR15 rifle, a quantity of ammunition, the two handcuffs and somepetrol

d Mrs Mikac and her twodaughters, murdering all three in the heart rending circumstances

n exchanged theArmalite rifle for a semi-automatic .308 FN rifle or SLR

After having heard the unchallenged account of these terrible events narrated by the learned Director ofPublic Prosecution and his Junior,

fired indiscriminately at various parts of the historic siteintending to hit and kill those who were within range

BroadArrow Cafe, he consumed a meal on the balcony outside and then, re-entering the cafe, placed the bag on anunoccupied table. He produced from the bag an AR15 rifle fitted with a 30-shot magazine and commencedto fire at close range at patrons who were complete strangers to him. In the first 15 seconds he discharged 17rounds, thereby causing the deaths of twelve people, the infliction of grievous bodily harm to a thirteenth;wounds to five more; and injuries to an additional four whom he attempted unsuccessfully to murder.Moving through the cafe to the gift shop annexed to it, he continued to discharge the weapon a close quartersbefore leaving the premises approximately 1½ minutes after firing the first shot. In that period of 90 seconds,29 rounds were fired causing the deaths of twenty people and injuries, many of them severe, to another twelvewho fortunately escaped with their lives

, the spectators who escaped physical injury weresubjected to emotional trauma of the most stressful kind. Although not the subject of any count in theindictment, this form of injury was clearly a by-product of the prisoner's wrongful conduct.

he was not a smoker, the inference is that he intended to arm himself with the means of igniting thepetro

furtherance of his intention, heacquired high powered weapons and embarked with three of them, a very large supply of ammunition andaccessories such as a sports bag to conceal the weapons, a hunting knife, two sets of handcuffs and rope. Inaddition he carried large quantities of petrol in containers, fire starters and acquired a cigarette lighter enroute.

Indeed he seems to have contemplated mayhem of such a drastic kind that it would in allprobability provoke a response which would result in his own death.

ntention of causing the deaths of Mr and MrsMartin against whom he had long harboured a grudge

COPS Report

Cox C J

22-Nov-1996

four counts of aggravated assault;* one count of unlawfully setting fire to property, namely a motor vehicle which he seized at gun pointfrom its rightful occupants, all of whom he murdered;* and for the arson of a building known as "Seascape", the owners of which he had likewise murdered theprevious day

the murder of no less than thirty-five persons;* of twenty attempts to murder others;* of the infliction of grievous bodily harm on yet three more; and* of the infliction of wounds upon a further eight persons.

lea of guilty

The national gun control laws enacted after the Port Arthur massacre remain one of the major social reforms ... of [my] government,” he added. “All the credible research both in Australia and elsewhere shows that the gun control laws have markedly reduced gun-related deaths.”

Research, however, suggests otherwise. Gun-related homicides decreased 7.5 percent per year following the reforms, while firearm-related suicides have also fallen

“All the credible research both in Australia and elsewhere shows that the gun control laws have markedly reduced gun-related deaths”

nationwide gun buyback scheme also saw more than 640,000 weapons turned in to authorities.

Australian government subsequently introduced the National Firearms Agreement — legislation that outlawed automatic and semi-automatic rifles, as well as pump-action shotguns.

“There were people everywhere — bodies,” witness Lynne Beavis told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "It’s just so indescribable what had happened in there."

Bryant, now 48 and imprisoned for life, was later assessed to have the IQ of an 11-year-old. He told investigators that he'd paid cash for firearms at a local gun dealer.

35 people were dead and 23 had been wounded.

The 28-year-old ate lunch before pulling a semi-automatic rifle from his bag and embarking on a killing spree.

In 1996, Martin Bryant entered a café at the site of a historic penal colony at Port Arthur, Tasmania.

a recent study found one occurs in America every two weeks.But for Australia, a single massacre changed everything.

The Port Arthur rampage prompted a severe crackdown on firearms that saw more than 640,000 weapons turned in to authorities.