Further payment for airgun shooting victim

File photo / Bay of Plenty Times

A woman shot in the face with an airgun pellet as she walked her dog along Cashmere Road will get a total of $1500 for emotion harm from the two youths who were recklessly target shooting at a property close by.

Both 19-year-olds have now been dealt with at Christchurch District Court where they pleaded guilty to charges of firing the airgun with reckless disregard for safety.

They were on a house's balcony, firing the gun at an empty plastic milk bottle, when a poorly aimed shot struck the woman, causing a welt, which bled, on her face, police prosecutor Sergeant Paul Brocas told the court.

James Michael Henry Burrows, who fired the shot, was ordered to pay the woman $1000 for emotional harm a few days ago, and his friend Samuel Carne Johnston was ordered by Judge David Saunders to pay another $500 at a court appearance today.

Defence counsel Moana Cole said Johnston had supportive parents and had apologised to the victim. He was going to a job interview this afternoon, which might enable him to pay the emotional harm reparations.

The judge granted a police request to destroy the airgun.

- NZPA