Kevin Finai: Cranbourne man sentenced over Carrum Downs Shopping Centre bashing, street shooting
A father of two has been sentenced in court after he had an “extreme reaction” to a short fight and shot at two men in a suburban street in Carrum Downs.
South East
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A father of two who had an “extreme reaction” to a short fight and shot at two men in a suburban street as one family was heading to a Sunday morning church service will remain behind bars.
Kevin Finai, 31, appeared in the Melbourne County Court for sentencing by Judge Wendy Wilmoth this week after earlier pleading guilty to five charges over a frightening incident on February 16, 2020.
The court heard Finai was exiting a bakery at the Carrum Downs Shopping Centre when he was approached by two people, one who had just told his friend he had been “rolled” by Finai, and the three “threw punches” at each other.
The fight ended after a short time, once one of the men realised his mate had “lied to him”.
The incident — witnessed by people completing their shopping — was captured on CCTV.
Shortly afterwards, after the duo had walked away, Finai pulled his car up across the road from them and produced a shotgun.
The court heard Finai pointed it towards them and fired twice before leaving the scene.
Judge Wilmoth said while nobody was injured, that was “beside the point”.
“Shooting a gun in a suburban street is extremely dangerous," he said.
“This was daylight, early on a Sunday morning when people were about.”
She said the incident was terrifying for innocent neighbours.
The court heard one man had been preparing to leave his house to travel to church with his family but had to usher them back inside after the “alarming” sound of shots being fired.
Judge Wilmoth condemned the behaviour, particularly as he decided to shoot the gun once the “fracas” was over and everybody had left the scene.
The court heard New Zealand-born Finai, who currently works in the prison gym, originally faced more serious charges in relation to the incident but these were downgraded following legal negotiations.
His 11 siblings and parents have “never been in trouble with the law” but his offending began at 19 and was fuelled by alcohol.
While his lawyer had previously submitted a combination sentence would be appropriate, Judge Wilmoth said the offending was “too serious”.
“You had an extreme response to a short fight.”
She sentenced Finai to three years in prison, with a non-parole period of two years.
He has been in custody for 642 days.
