Alleged Jurien Bay dog shooter Douglas Ian Turner’s trial date set

The Jurien Bay man who allegedly killed his neighbour’s dog for wandering into his yard last year will go to trial in September after pleading not guilty to nine charges stemming from the incident. Police have accused Douglas Ian Turner of shooting an unlicensed firearm at the dog, a kelpie-cross-doberman named Splinter, just after midday on Sunday, August 16. The court has previously heard Splinter was rushed more than 100km by his owners to Dongara Veterinary Clinic but succumbed to his injuries on the way. The day after the alleged shooting, police raided Mr Turner’s home, allegedly seizing seven unlicensed rifles, a shotgun, ammunition and drug paraphernalia. Three of the seized firearms were later identified as allegedly having been stolen in burglaries between 1995 and 2015. In Geraldton Magistrate’s Court yesterday, the 50-year-old reappeared where his lawyer, Ross Williamson, asked for the matter to be set down for trial. On Mr Turner’s behalf he pleaded not guilty to discharging a firearm to cause fear, four counts of possession of stolen property and four counts of unlicensed possession of firearms and ammunition. He did not enter pleas on a charges of causing an animal unnecessary harm and numerous other weapons offences. The court was told Mr Williamson was also representing Mr Turner’s 75-year-old mother, Margaret Eileen Turner who, in November, was embroiled the prosecution and charged over allegedly allowing him access to the weapons. She’s pleaded not guilty to permitting an unlicensed person to possess firearms and failing to safeguard firearms from improper use. The pair were set down for a September 14 trial by Magistrate Chris Miocevich who estimated it would run for two days.