Man ‘went to crazy place’

A man who "went to his crazy place" and shot a man three times in Winton has been sentenced to three years’ prison.

Manaia Michael Taki (20) was sentenced by Justice Rob Osborne in the High Court at Invercargill yesterday after earlier admitting a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The summary of facts said Taki and the victim were socialising at a Park St house on December 6 when a comment about parenting sparked an altercation.

"Heated words were exchanged and the victim challenged the defendant to a fight."

Taki fetched a .22 semi-automatic rifle from his car, returned to the house and fired two or three shots in the air before driving off.

After completing skids in the area, he returned to the house and drove backwards and forwards in the victim’s driveway.

When the victim came out of the house and approached Taki’s car, Taki fired multiple shots at him from a distance of 5m-8m.

One bullet hit the victim’s hand and two more struck his back as he turned to run. One came within a centimetre of his heart.

He underwent emergency surgery.

Taki later told police he had gone to "his crazy place".