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Mandurah: violent offender who fired shots during theft could be back on the streets by 2019

Rachel FennerMandurah Coastal Times

A VIOLENT sex offender who robbed two young men at gunpoint in Lakelands in 2014 could be back on the streets as early as 2019.

A jury convicted Bobby Punevski of two counts of aggravated armed robbery in May and he was sentenced recently.

Punevski targeted two young men who were dirt bike riding on October 5, 2014, in bush near Mandjoogoordap Road.

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He drove his father’s black Nissan Navara to the dirt track with false plates attached.

Punevski took a rifle from the back of the Navara, pointed it in the direction of the victims and said: “Do you know who the f— I am?”

He fired a shot into the air and the victims hid.

Punevski demanded they come out and give him their motorbikes.

One of the victims pleaded with Punevski not to shoot.

Before Punevski left, he noticed people at the end of the track, fired two rounds towards them and then shot at the victim’s car.

He stole the motorbikes, a wallet and a helmet from the victims.

One of the victims identified Punevski via identikit as the offender.

Parts of a presentence report read out by Judge Bruno Fiannaca during sentencing revealed Punevski had been smoking cannabis from the age of seven.

He said Punevski had a long history of violent offending, sexual offending and was using methamphetamine at the time of the offence.

Judge Fiannaca described the offence as a “terrifying ordeal” for the two young men involved.

A victim impact statement read out in court revealed one of the young men thought he was going to die and his “life flashed before his eyes”.

He is now paranoid and scared to go motorbike riding or camping.

The victim said he “pretty much lost everything” that day.

The second victim reported similar feelings and said he had frequent nightmares.

Judge Fiannaca said Punevski’s attempt to deceive the jury, by offering a false alibi, showed a lack of acceptance and responsibility.

A psychologist told the court there was a high likelihood of Punevski reoffending in the future.

Punevski is eligible for parole in 2019.