Politely and calmly, attempted murderer Kasha William Gosset has gone to jail for six-and-a-half years for what he describes as "a brain explosion".
In the High Court at Christchurch, Justice John Fogarty described Gosset's behaviour as "crazed" in shooting a 24-year-old three times in the chest when confronted with two potential attackers, one carrying an iron bar.
Gosset, a 28-year-old landscape gardener with bipolar disorder and tattoos around his neck, politely thanked the judge when he was allowed to sit during the sentencing.
He asked later: "Excuse me, Your Honour, could I say a few words?" That led to a conversation with his counsel James Rapley -- which the court and judge was able to hear -- about how he had been under attack throughout the time he fired the shots. That material had already been handed up as written submissions.
Gosset had insisted on pleading guilty in the District Court in January. He told the judge at that hearing: "I have cost the taxpayer enough money at the end of the day. It's a case where 20 minutes ruined my life, so to speak".
Gosset and his parents wrote letters which were handed to the judge.
Gosset has no previous convictions for violence, but some for drug offending, and has been in Hillmorton Hospital twice for mental disorders.
He said he had a good childhood, with a good family, but went off the rails and got in with bad associates. The incident began with a petty argument on November 11. Gosset went to a rival's house and smashed four windows with the iron bar, which he dropped as he fled.
The victim and his friend then turned up at Gosset's house in Gould Street, Woolston, with the bar, and there was a confrontation at the door.
Gosset fired four shots from a cut-down .22 rifle. It was a bolt action weapon and he had to reload after each shot.
Justice Fogarty said it was serious crime and a gross over-reaction to the situation. The victim, Harley James Biddick-Kemp, was lucky to be alive.
Crown prosecutor Sara Jamieson had sought a starting point of 12 years for the sentencing, and asked the judge to consider a non-parole term.
Mr Rapley sought a six-year starting point, saying it was not a cold, calculated attempted murder. Gosset unlawfully had the gun, and when people came to the property he reacted criminally and wrongly. He had later co-operated with the police, showing them where he had buried the firearm at the beach.
Justice Fogarty said Gosset's behaviour could only be described as crazed but he was aware of his mental health history.
He imposed the six-and-a-half year jail term but refused a non-parole term, saying he believed it was important that Gosset could begin treatment straight away rather than having it on hold for a time.
He said: "There is no doubt that your parents, who knew you well, were extremely concerned in the period shortly before this offending, that you were in a very unstable condition and were likely to harm someone, or yourself.
"They were doing their best to have you admitted to psychiatric care."
Gosset admitted charges of attempted murder, recklessly firing the gun, intentional damage of the windows, unlawful possession of the gun, unlawfully taking a car, theft of another vehicle, arson for burning out one vehicle, and theft of items he used when he tried to flee afterwards. Concurrent jail terms were imposed on some, and he was convicted and discharged on the rest. He was to be sentenced in the district court later on driving charges.
