A MAN who shot another man in the wrist with a home-made gun during an alcohol and drug-fuelled tirade has been sentenced to three years in jail.
Lloyd Garlett was drunk and had smoked five cannabis joints at a house party in Northam, in rural Western Australia, on March 11 when he became involved in a brawl with a man he had met during the evening.
The WA Supreme Court heard the 43-year-old then went home to pick up a home-made gun before returning to the party and shooting the man in the wrist.
The victim required surgery for his injury.
When police asked Garlett when he had started drinking, he replied, "first thing this morning".
The court heard Garlett also threatened to kill the victim but he told police he only intended to scare him.
Justice John McKechnie said although Garlett was affected by drugs and alcohol, he believed he was aware of his actions.
Justice McKechnie acknowledged that Garlett had been affected by being a victim of the Aboriginal "stolen generation" and said many middle class white Australians refused to acknowledge the issue.
"You are not entirely responsible for the way you have been shaped," he said.
However, Justice McKechnie said none of those factors were an excuse for Garlett's actions.
"Using a firearm is always going to attract serious penalties," he said.
"You had to go that one extra step. You had to get revenge or have the final word."
Garlett pleaded guilty to causing bodily harm and was sentenced to three years in prison but will be eligible for parole earlier.
His sentence was backdated to March 12.
