Father and son cleared of assault, unlawful confinement

A father and son accused of behaving like vigilantes after an incident outside their Bonython home have been cleared by an ACT Supreme Court jury.

Sebastian Lewis Hogan, 19, and his 49-year-old father, Andrew Jay Hogan were charged with assault and unlawful confinement, after Sebastian Hogan beat two men with a baseball bat last year.

He and his father then tied them up, and his father was alleged to have threatened the pair with an unloaded gun.

The court heard that Sebastian Hogan's car had earlier been vandalised and that threatening messages were sent to his phone.

Jurors heard he believed a local gang known as One Life was responsible for the threats.

Sebastian Hogan received provocative messages from the group, followed by a threatening phone call in which he was told to wait at the front of his family's Bonython house on the evening in question.

The prosecution accused the men of laying an ambush for the group.

But lawyers for the men told the court they were frightened after thecall, and were only trying to protect themselves.

Father sobbed as not guilty verdicts read

Today the jury agreed with the defence and acquitted the pair on all charges.

Andrew Hogan sobbed as the verdicts were read.

He had already pleaded guilty to a separate charge of not storing his firearms in an approved cabinet.

Justice John Burns has issued a non-conviction order and dismissed the charge.

But before letting Mr Hogan go he told him to think about his actions.

"You have been acquitted of all the charges," he said.

"That's not to say that I regard that all of the actions you and your son took were wise.

"You should think very hard about what you did and your son should think very hard about what he did."