The elated 38-year-old smiled as he was released from the dock, shook hands with barrister Eric Wilson and briefly chatted with court staff before wrapping his sister in a bear hug.

She had provided ongoing support in the public gallery since the trial commenced on November 3.

Wright was arrested following drive-by shootings at the Rebels clubhouse and a Wheelers Lane property.

On Wednesday a jury of seven women and five men acquitted him on three counts of discharging a firearm with reckless regard for the safety of another person.

Wright remained in custody because he had already pleaded guilty to an additional charge of possessing an unregistered firearm.

The court heard Wright’s fingerprints were found on an SKS rifle taken from a Mogriguy property during a police search.

Acting Judge McLauchlan was told Wright pleaded guilty to the charge because he had held the weapon, not because he owned it.

In facts that were agreed to by both the defence and the Crown, the court was told Wright was shown how to use the weapon in case of an attack on the property.

During the shooting trial, the court heard Wright and a friend, Raymond Grant, had been involved in an altercation at the Rebels clubhouse prior to November 2005 drive-by shootings.

“My client was in possession for the purposes of managing the weapon in the circumstances that the Rebels attacked the Mogriguy property,’ Mr Wilson said.

The court heard Wright has been in custody since July 18, 2008, a period extending beyond 16 months.

Acting Judge McLauchlan was told Wright had shown signs of being able to be rehabilitated prior to being taken into remand.

The court yesterday accepted that fact but Acting Judge McLauchlan said he could not conclude prospects for rehabilitation were good.

Wright was convicted on the gun possession charge but was not required to return to jail due to time already served.

Acting Judge McLauchlan said Wright had been placed on a 12-month bond for firearm offences in August 2004.

“The present offence was a breach of that bond and was committed while the offender was on conditional liberty,’’ Acting Judge McLauchlan said.

No action was taken on the bond breach.

Wright’s appearance has changed significantly since November 2005, with thick grey hair replacing a shaved head.

Throughout the trial Wright was conservatively dressed in dark trousers, long sleeved shirt and Dubbo Kangaroos rugby tie.

heather.crosby

@ruralpre ss.com