Launceston man Christopher Leigh Brown admits he sold firearm to teenager who murdered Billy Ray Waters

A 19-year-old Tasmanian boy shot and stabbed to death by his friends in Launceston in 2019 was murdered with his own gun, a court has heard.

The Supreme Court in Launceston on Friday heard Billy Ray Waters possessed a 12-gauge single-barrel shotgun, just months before his death.

The gun had been taken off him by an older man, who was concerned Mr Waters would use it.

The court heard that man then gave it to Christopher Leigh Brown, 34, of Launceston, to “protect” Mr Waters.

Brown has…