A man who shot a rifle at a car, that was carrying an infant, is set to begin drug rehabilitation after telling the boy's dad his aim would be better next time.
Chris James Payne, 37, tried to hide behind his grey hoodie as he walked out of the ACT courts building, having spent the past 15 months behind bars on remand.
On Tuesday, acting Justice Rebecca Christensen handed Payne a one-year-and-three-month drug and alcohol treatment order.
He faced the ACT Supreme Court's drug and alcohol sentencing list after pleading guilty to discharging loaded arms at a person.
Agreed facts state on May 25, 2023, the victim was contacted by a man known as "Chilli" about the sale of a motorcycle.
They arranged to meet at a home on Forbes Street in Turner.
Chilli was also going to help settle a feud between the victim and Payne, who believed the other man owed him money.
About 3.30am the male victim, his partner and their infant child arrived in a blue Mazda 3.
While Chilli was in the bathroom, the victim went outside to his car.
He saw three people emerge from behind some bushes and come towards him. One them Payne, who was holding a .22 calibre rifle.
The victim "knew something wasn't right" and reacted by telling his partner, who had got out of the car to tend to their son, to get back into the Mazda.
The woman rushed back into the car and the victim hopped into the driver's seat and took off.
As they fled, Payne is said to have raised the rifle and fired it at the driver.
As the victim accelerated towards Condamine Street, he heard the sound of a rifle fire, "and observed a flash of light emanating from the muzzle of the firearm".
The bullet ricocheted off the car, causing the victim to duck and drive into a gutter, which popped a tyre.
Shortly afterwards, in a recorded phone call with Payne, the victim said: "My son was in the f---ing car and you want to f---ing shoot at it."
During the call, Payne stated: "Wake the f--- up, wake the f--- up, next time if I do I won't f---ing miss, you got me c---."
