Father killed son in fight over dog
A MAN has pleaded guilty to shooting his son in the head following an argument over a dog.
Gregory Mark Howard, 51, of Punchbowl, in Sydney's southwest, pleaded guilty in the NSW Supreme Court today to murdering Jacob Digby, 23, on August 19, 2006.
The pair lived across the road from each other and the shooting occurred outside the father's home.
A crown statement of facts said the father and son had gone to a service station and Mr Digby left his dog Malley at the door.
When Howard came out he moved the dog, and a heated argument between father and son followed.
After they returned home, Mr Digby went to his father's house to talk to his grandmother, who lived there.
He told his grandmother about the argument and walked outside, shortly before she heard two loud noises, the statement of facts said.
Howard then came into the house and said "I've killed Jake".
Crown prosecutor Pat Barrett said Mr Digby was shot in the chest then, when he was on the ground, in the head.
Defence lawyer John Gordon said father and son had been drinking for most of the day.
Justice Robert Hulme remanded Howard in custody for sentencing on July 4.