A man who helped hide a rifle used in a Father’s Day shooting murder north of Brisbane has been jailed for six years.

September 27, 2019

A disabled man who helped his younger brother hide a sawn-off rifle used in a Father’s Day drug murder north of Brisbane has been jailed for at least two years.

Joshua Michael Meale, 31, admitted to being an accessory to murder after the fact following the fatal shooting of Clinton Pollock, 35, on September 2, 2018.

Mr Pollock was shot in his chest with .22 calibre rifle about 11.30pm in the front yard of his Deception Bay home after getting into an argument with four men during a methamphetamine deal.

Meale’s brother and another man have been charged with Mr Pollock’s murder, the Brisbane Supreme Court heard on Friday.

A third man, Christian James Sands, was sentenced on September 19 to three years in prison, suspended after six months, for driving the getaway car after the murder.

Meale was the fourth man in the group but says he didn’t realise his brother had the weapon tucked into his pants.

Mr Pollock was shot in front of his sister during the terse exchange. 

He died where he fell as paramedics fought to save his life.

The court heard the men fled the scene to bushland where one of them hid the gun.

The group then drove to Meale’s home, where his brother showered and the other men used methamphetamine.

Later, about 4am, Meale helped his brother retrieve the weapon before the pair disassembled and threw it into the water from the Shorncliffe Pier.

Justice Elizabeth Wilson says Mr Pollock’s mother, Donna Pollock, remains deeply distraught by the loss of her son.

“You saw Ms Pollock try to express the grief that she’s feeling but she couldn’t,” she said referring to Ms Pollock’s inability to read her victim impact statement because she was too upset.

“If nothing else I hope that brings home to you the grief that this family is experiencing.”

Justice Wilson said Meale’s actions ensured the weapon was gone forever and could have crippled the police investigation.

“You helped the principal offender, that is your brother, to escape and delay detection,” she said.

The court heard Meale suffers from cystic fibrous, severe bronchitis, chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, pancreatic deficiency, liver disease and chronic lower limb pain.

Defence lawyer Simone Bain told the court Meale has a 37 per cent lung capacity and receives a disability pension.

His extensive medical needs and illness would result in his jail time being tougher than the usual offender, she said while asking for a reduced sentence.

But prosecutor Sandra Cupina was unsympathetic.

She pointed to Meale’s drug use and said his illness didn’t prevent him being at the scene on the night.

Ms Cupina also questioned Meale’s remorse, saying he initially lied to police.

Meale was sentenced to six years’ prison, with parole eligibility after two years.