Anthony James Koicev: jury finds Carroll shooter guilty of firing shotgun at Anthony Ritter from the driver's seat of his commodore

The decision came just a day after Koicev flatly denied the allegations in Tamworth District Court, calling them "totally false" and "not true at all".

Just before the jury retired to consider their verdict, Koicev's defence barrister reminded all 12 members that it was up to the Crown to prove beyond reasonable doubt that his client was guilty.

"You must remember there is no onus on the accused to prove he is innocent, no onus whatsoever," he said.

"The onus never shifts onto the accused."

But, expert evidence, including that of senior forensic chemist Nadine Kraymen and a passionate argument from prosecutor Brendan Queenan convinced them.

It was Ms Kraymen's expert opinion that she found seven particles inside the commodore on the lining of the driver's side roof, the door lining and the window, that strongly supported the probability that a firearm had been there.

Judge Deborah Payne reminded the jury of the key points made by the Crown.

That evidence included three phone calls made by the victim to Triple Zero in half-an-hour, two people who heard a gunshot and a vehicle speeding away and a witness who was approached by Koicev that night looking for another way out of the dead-end street he had driven down after the gunshot.

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The jury found Koicev guilty of using an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence, namely intimidation.

Koicev's bail was continued, but varied so that he can enter Gunnedah, but not Carroll. He is not allowed to approach Mr Ritter and will return to court for sentence in February.

Judge Payne thanked the jury for their time.

"I note at all times you were very diligent in your attention to the case," she said.

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