A 52-year-old Hillview man who threatened and shot at a gay couple has been denied bail while he appeals his conviction.

It happened outside a cabin in Hatchet Cove, Trinity Bay, in 2018.

Harvey Price arrives in his pickup with a loaded shotgun, and confronts Edison Avery and his partner, shouting homophobic slurs.

Price gets out, grabs the gun, points it at them, and fires two shots, missing the two men—who hit the ground for cover before running next door for help.

Avery, who built the cabin, had been married to Price’s sister but divorced after Avery came out as gay.

Court also heard a dispute arose over ownership of the cabin, and that Price had threatened to kill both men if he ever saw them in the Hatchet Cove area.

He was sentenced to 14 months for death threats and weapons offences, but appealed, asking for bail until that’s heard in May. But the court said no, saying release now would be seen as an affront to the administration of justice.

It also expressed “lingering concern” about public safety, given the incident appeared to be vigilante justice motivated by homophobia.