A Braybrook man, who shot a man in the knee with a sawn-off shotgun on Australia Day last year, has been sentenced to three years and six months’ prison.
Dek Wasame pleaded guilty in the County Court last month to one charge of recklessly causing serious injury and another charge of using an unregistered firearm.
The court heard that in the days leading up to the offence Wasame developed an aggressive and bullying approach towards his unnamed victim, whom he had known since 2014 through drug use. The court heard of numerous phone calls and text messages from Wasame to the victim, threatening violent acts – one text stated he was going to kill the victim.
On the day of the offence, Wasame arrived early at a known drug house in Braybrook, where he waited for his victim.
The court heard Wasame confronted the victim about unreturned calls before striking him on the head with the butt of a gun.
Other people in the house tried to calm Wasame, and while he was angrily waving the shotgun around it discharged, the bullet hitting the victim in the knee. Wasame then fled the property. The victim was taken by ambulance to Royal Melbourne Hospital where he remained for several weeks.
Wasame was arrested at Sunshine Police Station several hours later when he was reporting for a separate bail matter.
The court was told he initially denied the shooting, but later pleaded guilty to both charges.
In sentencing, Judge Liz Gaynor said Wasame had good rehabilitation prospects with a strong family to return to when released.
“It is my view that you have good prospects of rehabilitation,” Ms Gaynor said.
“Once removed from the criminal milieu that you were involved in, you have responded quickly and well.
“You clearly re-established a good relationship with your family,” Ms Gaymor told Wasame.
“That is important, because a court can be confident that you have good, strong, law-abiding structure awaiting you once you leave gaol.”
Wasame must serve two years and three months before being eligible for parole.
