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man who accidentally fired a rifle through his own car door and into another car parked nearby has been fined in the Christchurch District Court.
Michael John Graham, a 50-year-old Kaiapoi construction worker, had admitted firing his rifle with reckless disregard for the safety of others.
On April 9, outside Gun City in Cranford Street, Graham was taking the rifle out of his car to take it into the shop for maintenance. He accidentally fired the rifle, and the owner of the other car was still nearby.
Defence counsel Andrew McCormick said Graham accepted the trauma to the victim, and was very embarrassed, but the victim did not want to attend a restorative justice meeting with Graham.
He said Graham was a hunter, the weapon was a high powered one, and he was aghast at his recklessness.
Judge Josephine Bouchier said Graham had a previous good record, and had a firearm licence.
She said the incident caused significant trauma to the people involved, and fined Graham $300, and reparation to the victim of $984.
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