A man who was involved in a plot to sell a man salt instead of methamphetamine that ended with the victim being shot twice has had his prison sentence reduced.
Alexander Hayden Mowbray, from Rotorua, appealed his sentence, was re-sentenced and has now has had his prison sentence reduced by eight months, taking it to five years and five months.
Mowbray pleaded guilty to a charge of assault with intent to rob and the Court of Appeal ruled he should be re-sentenced as there were inconsistent references to facts in the judge's original sentencing notes. The inconsistencies led to Mowbray's culpability being greater than what it was.
Justice Pheroze Jagose's re-sentencing notes have just been released publicly by the High Court.
In it, it said Mowbray was part of a group that had a plan to rob a man, who was visiting Rotorua from Australia, by luring him to Jubilee Walking Track on Paradise Valley Rd late at night on October 20, 2016 on the pretence of selling him methamphetamine.