Lachlan James Floyd (pictured) was sentenced to just six years behind bars for the manslaughter of Stuart Townsend
A lovelorn former soldier and Victorian bikie has been put behind bars for just six and a half years after shooting the object of his ex-girlfriend’s affection dead.
Lachlan Floyd shot at least five rounds from a shotgun at the back and neck of Stuart Townsend on February 16 last year, with one stray bullet to his torso resulting in his death.
The deadly standoff near Galbally Reserve, which contains a playground for children, came after Floyd learned Mr Townsend had begun dating his ex-girlfriend.
Justice Mark Weinberg said in the days following his discovery, Floyd ‘became fixated about this’.
The Supreme Court of Victoria heard Floyd had continued to send his ex girlfriend Jade Michael messages about her new boyfriend, tried to initiate sex with her, and sent a number of lewd messages to her.
Floyd was a former soldier and member of the Finks Motorcycle Club before he was ‘patched over’ by the Mongols (pictured)
Floyd had then seen Ms Michael at the Queen Victoria Night Market, where he waved. She was with Mr Townsend at the time, who called Floyd a ‘dog’.
It appeared this wave was a move too far for Mr Townsend, who then paid multiple visits to Floyd’s home while he wasn’t there and sent a slew of disturbing text messages to him.
The messages included a photograph of ‘My Dog’ dog food, threats to his family and referred to Floyd as a ‘dog’, a ‘mutt’, a ‘goose’ and a ‘tip rat w****’.
In one text, Mr Townsend wrote: ‘I’m gonna rape your mouth you little s***! Hurry up and write back f****t, why are you so scared? You’re a big tough bikie aren’t ya’.
Justice Weinberg told the court Floyd had then showed the messages to a friend and purchased a wooden baseball bat ‘in case there’s blokes [at his house]’.
Stuart Townsend had begun dating an ex-girlfriend of Floyd’s, Jade Michael, and sent a series of threatening messages to him after he discovered Floyd was still trying to make contact with her
Later that night, Floyd and Mr Townsend arranged to meet at Galbally Reserve in Hughesdale, with Mr Townsend later asking him to meet in a different area because there would be ‘too many kids’ at the park.
The court heard Floyd arrived with a loaded Beretta A300 semi-automatic 12 gauge shotgun – a weapon banned in Australia.
When Mr Townsend arrived, he and Floyd walked towards each other before it is alleged Mr Townsend’s friend fired ‘either one or two shots from a .380 automatic handgun’ towards Floyd.
‘You responded by firing at least five shots towards them,’ Justice Weinberg said to Floyd as he handed down his sentence.
‘Mr Townsend received five pellet wounds to the neck and back. All these wounds were inflicted upon him as he was facing away from you.
‘One of these wounds, to the back, would subsequently prove to be fatal.
When the two men agreed to meet and sort their beef out in person, Floyd (pictured) came equipped with a Beretta A300 semi-automatic 12 gauge shotgun
Floyd then dismantled his shotgun, wrapped it in electric tape and discarded it in a local swimming area, before deleting all messages and contact with Mr Townsend from his phone.
Defence for Floyd claimed he had suffered PTSD from his time in the military, and a psychiatrist report from Dr Jerome Gelb claimed when the man went to meet Mr Townsend, the disorder forced him into a military way of thinking and left him ready for combat.
During an interview with police, Floyd initially claimed he had acted in self-defence, and claimed he was ‘a bit worried’ to attend the meeting with Mr Townsend in the first place.
He later pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Townsend – which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years behind bars.
Justice Weinberg told Floyd he did not believe he was remorseful for his actions, but his PTSD diagnosis and guilty plea would grant him a lower sentence and lower parole period.
Floyd was sentenced to ten years in jail, with a non-parole period of six years and six months.
Defence for Floyd claimed he had suffered PTSD from his time in the military, and a psychiatrist report from Dr Jerome Gelb claimed when the man went to meet Mr Townsend, the disorder forced him into a military way of thinking and left him ready for combat (pictured: Floyd in his army days)