Josie Murray, the grandmother of missing four-year-old Gus Lamont, has been fined $10,500 after pleading guilty to a firearms offence unrelated to the boy's disappearance eight months ago.
Court Hearing
During a hearing at the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday, the 75-year-old pleaded guilty to one aggravated charge of possessing a sound moderator, commonly known as a gun silencer. The charge stemmed from a search of the family's Oak Park station homestead in South Australia's far north on 15 January.
Prosecutor Tania Stevens informed the court that the silencer was found inside a passcode-protected strongroom alongside several firearms, including one that had been modified to accommodate it. Stevens also noted that Murray had a prior conviction in 2010 for failing to securely store firearms after a fugitive trespassed onto the property and stole an unsecured firearm. That individual later committed serious offences with the weapon before taking his own life.
Defence Argument
Defence lawyer Andy Ey explained that two non-working firearms were taken during the 2010 incident, while a third firearm was stolen from Murray's aunt's property later that day. The trespasser used that third firearm to end his life. Ey described the incident as "extremely traumatic" for the family, with Murray's aunt being held hostage.
Ey also addressed what he called "the elephant in the room"—the disappearance of Gus Lamont. He highlighted the immense stress the family has endured, with media attention and a significant police presence adding to their difficulties. Ey urged Magistrate Roderick Jensen to reject the prosecution's call for a custodial sentence, emphasising that the case did not involve a villain or assassin using a silencer in a James Bond-style scenario. The offence carried a maximum penalty of $75,000 or up to 10 years in jail.
Sentence
Magistrate Jensen imposed a fine of $10,500 and disqualified Murray from holding a firearms licence for five years.
Background on Gus Lamont's Disappearance
Gus was last seen playing at the family's Oak Park station on 27 September. On 5 February, South Australia Police declared his disappearance a major crime, stating that someone living at the station was a suspect in the case and his likely death, though they stressed his parents were not suspects. The following day, the grandmothers released a statement affirming their full cooperation with the investigation and their desire to find Gus and reunite him with his parents.
The search for Gus spanned nearly 500 square kilometres, involving hundreds of police and volunteers, aerial support, and mounted units. Despite extensive efforts, neither the boy nor any of his belongings have been found.
