Man charged over alleged Sydney shooting spree picks barrist...

A court hearing for a man charged over an alleged shooting spree in Sydney’s inner west on Sunday night has been delayed by a dispute over which of two lawyers was representing him.

Artemios Mintzas, 60, appeared in the Burwood local court on Tuesday after he allegedly shot “about 50” high-powered rifle rounds at pedestrians, cars and buildings in Croydon Park over two hours before he was apprehended by tactical officers.

Dozens of shots were allegedly fired from a first-storey apartment, hitting cars and buildings and injuring several people.

Mintzas was taken to hospital under police guard on Sunday for injuries sustained during the arrest.

He was taken to Burwood police station on Monday where he was charged with 25 offences, including 18 counts of shooting with intent to murder.

He was also charged with discharging a firearm with the intent to resist arrest and firing a firearm in a public place.

Additional charges included possessing an unregistered or prohibited firearm and possessing ammunition without a licence, permit or authority.

Mintzas was refused bail to appear at Burwood local court on Tuesday.

On Tuesday morning, defence lawyer Diana Sabouni told the court she had received instructions about Mintzas’s bail application and had been in communication with his family.

But another lawyer, barrister Dymphna Hawkins, told the court she had been contacted on Monday about representing Mintzas and had spoken with him on Tuesday morning.

There were several exchanges between the lawyers and the magistrate Jennifer Price. At one point, Price told the lawyers to “slow down a bit, lower the anger”.

Both Sabouni and Hawkins left the courtroom at different times and reappeared to say they had spoken to Mintzas. Finally, Mintzas appeared in the dock, wearing a blue hoodie and with visible facial bruising.

Price asked Mintzas: “Who do you wish to represent you?” Mintzas confirmed he wanted to be represented by Hawkins. “Sorry about that,” he told the court.

After Sabouni left the courtroom, Hawkins confirmed that no application for bail would be made.

Price adjourned the case for eight weeks until 3 December, when Mintzas was expected to appear by video link.

Speaking outside the court, Hawkins did not say if Mintzas would fight the charges, but said he was “doing OK”.

Acting Supt Stephen Parry told reporters on Monday that police had allegedly seized a single weapon – a 30-calibre rifle – from the man’s apartment above a business on Georges River Road.

“Some of those firearms can fire in quick succession,” Parry said. Investigators believed “about 50” shots had been fired, although forensic officers were still examining two crime scenes on Monday afternoon.

Sixteen people were treated on the scene for minor injuries on Sunday night, authorities said, with two subsequently taken to hospital. Three others were also treated in hospital.

Some were injured by shattered glass as bullets hit windows. Others were treated for shock.

A man in his 50s was driven to hospital in a serious condition after the car he was a passenger in was allegedly shot.

He underwent surgery for a gunshot wound to the neck and was understood to be the only person to have sustained direct injuries from gunfire. Parry said the man’s injuries were non-life-threatening. The situation for the other occupants of the vehicle would have been “highly traumatic”, he said.

Parry said: “It’s incredible that nobody has died … it’s a testament to the tactical plans put together by our specialist police. In my 35 years in the police, there have been very few incidents of this nature.”

A nearby business owner said there was initially confusion as the early bullets were fired.

Aysegul, who asked that her surname not be used, was running the Croydon Park Kebab House next door to the apartment the gunman allegedly began shooting from.

At first she heard two shots, but did not know what they were. Customers inside the restaurant continued eating.

“Then it was like nonstop bang bang bang,” Aysegul said, adding she could smell the live rounds inside the restaurant.

They called police who told her and her customers to shelter inside the restaurant, which they did until about 10pm.

The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, acknowledged the “incredible bravery of the police officers and emergency services who responded without hesitation to protect the community”.