A man who gunned down an innocent victim out of revenge for an assault on his younger brother will spend at least the next decade in jail.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
Jim Dastan shot Craig Anderson four times as the wounded man retreated back inside his home in the western Sydney suburb of Doonside early in the evening of May 27, 2019.
He was sentenced to 21 years in jail for murder on Friday with a non-parole period of 15 years, backdated to the time of his 2019 arrest.
Dastan denies being the man who shot Mr Anderson, pointing the finger at another person who he convinced to accompany him to the house as an accomplice.
Justice Ian Harrison imposed an additional 18-month sentence on Dastan for participating in a criminal group, making him first eligible for parole on November 27, 2034.
Dastan was operating out of revenge on the mistaken belief Mr Anderson had committed the assault on his brother, the judge told the NSW Supreme Court.
A witness reported hearing somebody ask Mr Anderson what happened to their brother seconds before the murder, which Justice Harrison said could only logically have been the killer.
"What happened to my f***ing brother yesterday?" Dastan said, according to the witness.
"I didn't have anything to do with it. I told them to stop it," Mr Anderson replied.
Dastan responded with "f***ing bulls***" before shooting the victim twice as he ran up the steps of his home and another two times after he reached the front doorway.
He was described by witnesses during his trial as "rambling" and like a "broken record" as he discussed exacting revenge on his brother's behalf.
"I'm going to get them. Go sort these c*** out," Dastan said, according to the witnesses.
Justice Harrison said Dastan had taken the law into his own hands with disastrous results both for him and Mr Anderson.
Australian Associated Press
