Psychiatrist admits guilt over court gun charges

As seen in The Age

Melbourne psychiatrist Jerry Gelb has pleaded guilty to three firearm charges after he was arrested in February in Victoria's busiest court with a loaded handgun.

Gelb, 49, entered Melbourne Magistrates Court with an unregistered .22 Ruger pistol and 49 rounds of ammunition in his backpack.

He had attended court on February 1 with his wife Kerrie and their bodyguard David Schmack for a hearing involving Gelb's former wife.

Schmack, 40, now a pastor of the Jesus The Rock Apostolic Church, also pleaded guilty to two charges that included attempting to pervert the course of justice. Kerrie Gelb, 35, will contest her charges, which also include attempting to pervert the course of justice, in August.

Melbourne Magistrates Court heard yesterday that in 2005 the Gelbs believed an associate of the couple was told by a criminal that Gelb's former wife, Sharon Guy, had taken a contract out on his life.

They alleged the criminal, who Gelb claimed gave him the handgun, then tried to extort $5000 from them or he would fulfil the contract.

But Gelb's lawyer, Bob Galbally, told another hearing earlier this month that the couple now accepted they were wrong to accuse Ms Guy of plotting to have him murdered.

Gelb, who first told court security the gun was an exhibit in his case, later told police he forgot it was in his bag. Schmack, who was arrested after trying to dispose of a shotgun that had been under the Gelbs' bed, said in an interview that Gelb was the "most unlikely person I've met in my life" to use the gun.

Gelb, of Armadale, whose practising certificate has been suspended, and Schmack, of Dandenong, were bailed to appear in October in the County Court.