Teenager convicted after shooting friend

The defendant told police he "got angry" and had no intention of hurting anyone. Photo / File

Friends helping an Alexandra teenager celebrate his 18th birthday took cover behind a wheelie bin when he became angry and kept reloading and firing his newly-bought airgun at them, shooting one friend in the knee, the Alexandra District Court heard yesterday.

Anthony McLellan, 18, labourer, admitted charges of causing bodily injury to Sfen Rouse-Henry by carelessly using an airgun and discharging an airgun with reckless disregard for the safety of others, on July 29 in Alexandra.

Judge John Macdonald convicted and remanded him to October 16 and ordered the destruction of the gun.

Prosecutor Sergeant Ross Hutton said the group were drinking together that night and McLellan became "angry and agitated" after receiving some texts and calls on his cellphone.

He went home and got his high-powered air rifle and then met the friends again, walking along the street. First he fired three or four shots towards them and then stopped, saying he thought they were another group, Mr Hutton said.

He discharged more shots in the air later.

The group took the gun off him and gave it back as they headed home. After walking off, he reloaded the gun and shot at his group of friends, who were following him, then reloaded and shot again as they sought cover behind a wheelie bin.

Mr Rouse-Henry screamed after being hit in the left knee and McLellan ran off and hid.

The victim had surgery to remove the pellet and had two weeks off work, Mr Hutton said.

The defendant told police he "got angry" and had no intention of hurting anyone.

Counsel Tim Cadogan said McLellan had just bought the gun that day. He had been "upset and extremely emotional" that evening for a number of reasons.

The group were "very good friends" and a non-association clause in McLellan's bail conditions meant he was not permitted to have any contact with them.

Mr Cadogan said that meant McLellan would miss several 18th and 20th birthday parties and asked if that clause could be removed but Judge Macdonald said it would remain.

All sentencing options remained on the table, Judge Macdonald said.