Collie shooting co-accused Alex Ezekiel Coombe to remain in custody following delay of bail application

A 21-year-old co-accused of shooting a man in Collie in July will remain behind bars until at least October after a magistrate suggested his bail application be delayed. Alex Ezekiel Coombe appeared in Bunbury Magistrates Court on Thursday via video link from Bunbury Regional Prision on one charge of attempting to strike a person with a projectile to cause grievous bodily harm and offering to sell or supply methamphetamine. He appeared with a home detention bail report prepared on August 21, which his lawyer Matthew Blackburn said found the proposed Preston Settlement address unsuitable due to the property owners being overseas at the time, but they have since returned. Mr Blackburn said he understood the man alleged to have been shot in the July 14 incident was in Bunbury Regional Prison in protective custody. He said Mr Coombe was likely to plead not guilty to the allegations, with would likely result in a District Court trial not occurring for 18 to 24 months. Mr Blackburn said it would be “unfair” for Mr Coombe to remain in custody until that time. Police prosecutor Sgt John Seidner said bail would be opposed. The alleged shooting occurred after a dispute allegedly escalated into a barrage of text messages directed at the complainant and a series of drives past the man’s home. After about 12 hours of the ordeal, police say the complainant was preparing to confront the accused men. He was shot in the hands and was later treated in hospital with nine shotgun pellets lodged in his hands. It is also alleged Mr Coombe had offered to supply 0.1g of methamphetamine on July 10. Magistrate Angus Hockton said he was not minded to grant bail due “the seriousness of the case”, but discussions between him and Mr Blackburn saw the decision delayed until October 7. The move was made to allow Magistrate Joanne Andretich, who initially requested the home detention report, to make the final call. Mr Coombe will remain in custody until that date, which is also set down to be a committal mention. His brother and co-accused Joseph James Horohau Coombe, 34, is set to next appear on October 24.