KEY POINTS:
A soldier who was almost shot by police during an armed ofenders callout is to remain in the army.
Michael John McEntee, 33, a lance corporal, was sentenced in Christchurch District Court earlier this month to community work after pleading guilty to a number of firearms offences.
After a row with his girlfriend, McEntee threatened fellow soldiers with what turned out to be replica pistol during a pre-deployment function for East Timor forces at Burnham Military Camp, Christchurch, in April.
Police were called and a AOS police officer was close to shooting McEntee when his partner stepped into the line of fire.
Judge David Saunders told the court that the time of the incident McEntee was suffering from a psychological condition relating to previous overseas service.
A jail sentence would have meant the end of his army career and he was sentenced to 120 hours community service.
After a review, the army said this week McEntee had been formally cautioned over his action and reinstated to fulltime duties.
- NZPA
