A woman's first offences have been described as a "brain explosion" by a judge.
Priscilla Hinezeta Lackner, 39, was sentenced in the Invercargill District Court yesterday on two charges of possessing imitation firearms, two of threatening to kill, posting a harmful digital communication and dangerous driving.
In September three victims told the defendant her family dogs had been given away.
The defendant threatened to kneecap and shoot them all.
In November, Lackner was driving with her daughter when she gave the finger to someone she recognised driving by and tail-gated the vehicle.
The sister of the car victim later messaged the defendant on Facebook.
Lackner responded with a video of her holding an imitation shotgun.
She then sent a voice message saying she had bullets and would kill them.
She said she "would be happy to rot in a cage knowing that [the victims] were not stealing oxygen".
She said Lackner felt she needed to send the victims a "serious message" to ensure they stayed away from her and she "simply wanted to be left alone".
Judge Russell Walker took this into consideration, accepting this offending had occurred in "survival mode".
He recognised Lackner’s background, abusive relationship and the importance of her dogs to her.
However, the judge also said that while the first threats may have been impulsive, the Facebook messages were specific and calculated.
"Your offending represented something of a brain explosion on your part," Judge Walker said.
He said the victim would have taken the video at face value, believing the defendant was coming for her.
Judge Walker considered the defendant’s time in custody and on electronically-monitored bail.
He sentenced Lackner to 12 months’ supervision and disqualified her from driving for six months.
