A man involved in a North Wagga shooting that left a victim with a bullet lodged permanently in his leg has been sentenced to two years and three months’ jail.
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Wayne Mark Murdoch, 40, entered the Mill Street home in January last year with his two co-accused while they were allegedly armed with a firearm.
The victim was in the shower when Murdoch entered with his co-accused, one of whom was allegedly carrying the firearm while the other was allegedly armed with a hunting knife.
Hearing some commotion in his living room, the victim fearfully made a run for the front door while wearing nothing but a towel.
As he ran outside, the victim heard a man yell out “stop” before hearing a bang and feeling pain in his leg.
He continued to run down the street, hiding in someone’s front yard and yelling out “Call the police, I’ve been shot”. Murdoch fled the scene and the victim returned to his house to call for the police and an ambulance.
He was taken to Wagga Base Hospital to be treated for his gunshot wound, where surgery to remove the bullet was unsuccessful.
Just days before Murdoch was due to face trial in June this year, he entered a last-minute plea of guilty to entering a house with intent to commit intimidation in company and armed with a dangerous weapon.
At his sentencing hearing last month, Murdoch told Wagga District Court he was “really sorry”.
“I was a different person,” he said. “If I could take it all back, I would.”
Handing down his decision on Tuesday, Judge Gordon Lerve said Murdoch could not serve his jail sentence in the community because a firearm was discharged during the incident.
“Intimidation carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and is at the cusp of being a serious indictable offence,” Judge Lerve said.
“The offence was committed in the home of the victim, at night, and in company.”
Murdoch was on bail until Tuesday, when he was escorted out of court and into custody. With a non-parole period of 15 months, he will be up for release next December.
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