In short:
Andrew David Rankmore has pleaded not guilty to 97 weapon-related offences, arguing he owns antiques.
asserted
he → plead → antiques
A pre-trial hearing is assessing the classification of his guns, with a judge told Mr Rankmore is an enthusiast, not a criminal.
What's next?
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What → assess → guns
The Crown says it intends to reassess the charges, conceding some guns may qualify as antiques.
uncertain
guns → say → antiques
A court has heard a stash of dozens of guns seized by police in the NSW Hunter Valley are antiques rather than illegal firearms.
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stash → hear → firearms
Andrew David Rankmore, 42, has pleaded not guilty to 97 weapons offences, including possessing unauthorised pistols and ammunition and not storing firearms safely.
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Rankmore → plead → firearms
In 2024, Port Stephens police officers were assisted by federal environmental officers when they raided his Williamtown home.
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they → assist → home
Newcastle Local Court previously heard 63 firearms were seized, including unregistered handguns, unregistered rifles, as well as shotguns, ammunition and firearm parts.
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firearms → hear → handguns
Mr Rankmore has argued the weapons fall under the classification of antiques.
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weapons → argue → antiques
In a pre-trial hearing in Newcastle District Court today, Mr Rankmore's solicitor, Dominic Green, described his client as an "enthusiast" and not a criminal.
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solicitor → describe → enthusiast
"Some of the weapons were described by the police expert himself as antique revolvers, all considered antique if manufactured prior to 1900," he said.
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he → describe → 1900
Definitions and the Act
Solicitor and trial advocate Tanika Vakuara appeared on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
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Solicitor → appear → Prosecutions
Ms Vakuara conceded that at least a dozen or more firearms could meet the definition in terms of the interpretation section 6A of the Firearms Act.
uncertain
firearms → concede → Act
"They appear to be antique revolvers within meaning section 6A of the act,"Ms Vakuara said.
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Vakuara → appear → act,"Ms
"And at the relevant time the accused did hold a Category G firearms licence that would allow him to posses them, but not necessarily to use them."
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him → accuse → them
Storage concerns rejected
Ms Vakuara did, however, raise concerns about storage, with some weapons seized found in a beehive and bedroom table drawer.
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weapons → reject → drawer
The court heard a gun was also allegedly found inside a sock in Mr Rankmore's pocket when police arrived at his home.
uncertain
police → hear → home
Mr Green said there were few storage requirements for enthusiasts like his client, who regularly attended gun shows.
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who → say → shows
"The storage requirements are minimal and there are no transport restrictions at all," he said.
"
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he → be → ?
There is nothing requiring a bolt to be removed or locked at all."
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bolt → be → ?
"He is an enthusiast and at these [gun] shows weapons are just lying on the table, unloaded of course, but displayed on a table."
He said his client possesed an array of "cap and ball revolvers that do not require registration".
Cap and ball revolvers
Judge Bennett told the court he was familiar with the history of antique weapons.
"People generally have a fascination with these things like Colt revolvers,"Judge Bennett said.
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Bennett → lie → revolvers,"Judge
"Samuel colt produced a number of these revolves that evolved before the Civil War … they went as far back as 1842."
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they → produce → 1842
Mr Rankmore also stands accused of possessing chemicals consistent with the manufacture of gun powder, a charge he denies.
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he → accuse → powder
At the end of the hearing, Ms Vakaura said the Crown would need to "carefully re-assess" the case against Mr Rankmore, after seeking further advice on firearm classifications.
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Crown → say → classifications
"If I can be frank, I think the original basis on which crown certified these charges was that each of these required registration, the conclusion I have is they did not," she said.
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she → think → registration
Judge Bennett deferred his judgement on the classification of the weapons until next week, noting potential consequences if there was a conviction.
"I really want to try and get this right because there is a lot that turns on all of this and a conviction if it does flow through it can be profound for the accused,"Judge Bennett said.
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Bennett → defer → accused,"Judge
He will hand down his judgement on the classification of the weapons on October 1.
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He → hand → October
The Aporia