Baby shot in foot: Dad convicted

Joshua Rimene accidentally shot his 11-month-old daughter in the foot with a shotgun he was taking out of a cupboard. Photo / Thinkstock

A man accidentally shot his 11-month-old daughter in the foot while getting a shotgun out of a cupboard, a court has been told.

Joshua Rimene, 21, appeared in Masterton District Court yesterday for sentencing on charges of careless use of a firearm causing injury, and possession of a firearm without a licence.

The court was told Rimene had been given the shotgun to look after in November last year, which he stored in a bedroom cupboard.

Ian Hard, Rimene's lawyer, told the court his client was only holding the gun for someone else. However, Rimene refused to name that person.

Shortly before Christmas, Rimene decided to dispose of the shotgun, which went off as he was getting it out of the cupboard, Judge Bruce Davidson said.

One of the gun's pellets went through a door and into the hall, where it hit Mr Rimene's young daughter in the foot.

She had the pellet removed in hospital.

Rimene was sentenced to four months' community detention and nine months supervision.

Judge Davidson said he accepted that Mr Rimene was mortified and remorseful about the accident, and ordered the gun be destroyed.