A man who lured his enemy to a secluded Wellington beach before shooting him has been sentenced to eight years in jail.
John David Schuster, 44, was one of two men charged with the attempted murder of Tulo Tuala earlier this year.
Mr Tuala was seriously injured in the incident at Makara Beach in April.
The High Court at Wellington was told Schuster believed Mr Tuala was a braggart and a "threat" to his family.
Schuster lured Mr Tuala, aged 55 at the time, to Makara on the pretext of a fishing outing.
He shot once, hitting Mr Tuala. He shot again but missed, the court was told.
Schuster's lawyer Paul Paino said his client had "fallen from grace" on this occasion but was usually a man of good character.
Mr Paino said his client wanted to take courses in prison and be a better person.
Schuster did not feel sympathy for Mr Tuala but recognised the shooting had negatively impacted Mr Tuala's family.
The court was told Schuster no longer saw Mr Tuala as a threat.
Schuster apologised in writing to Mr Tuala's family before his sentencing.
He asked for a 25 per cent discount on an expected 10-year jail sentence after entering a guilty plea entered last month.
However, Justice Simon France said there was "obvious planning" before the shooting so a 25 per cent discount was too lenient.
The judge said Schuster lay in wait before firing. "My assessment is killing the victim was the plan from the outset."
Justice France said Mr Tuala required surgery after the shooting and would probably need more treatment in future.
The judge said Schuster had offended seven times in the past decade but those offences only resulted fines or community work orders.
Justice France gave Schuster a 20 per cent discount, so Schuster was sentenced to eight years in jail.
Schuster acknowledged his own family with a smile as he entered the dock and again as he left.
Schuster's co-accused has pleaded not guilty and faces a High Court trial in March.
By John Weekes of NZME. News Service
