Family outburst at judge as brain-damaged shooter jailed: ‘Get f**ked’
A thug who shot a man at a child’s birthday party before accidentally shooting himself in the head a week later has been jailed.
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A gun-obsessed thug who shot a man at a child’s birthday party was nabbed when he accidentally shot himself in the head using the same gun a week later.
Luke Morin was jailed for five years on Wednesday after pleading guilty to the shooting in November last year.
His family members swore at Judge Gabriele Cannon as they left court when he was sentenced, yelling “f**k off” and “get f**ked”.
“I might deal with them for contempt later,” Judge Cannon said.
The 27-year-old, who had a “fascination” with guns, shot a man sitting in a car at an eight-year-old’s birthday party at Noble Park.
A shootout erupted at the address and Morin fled.
“It concerns me a great deal that you would act in this most frightening and brazen way without any apparent regard for anyone in the vicinity,” Judge Cannon said. “It’s like something out of the wild west.”
Six days after the shooting, Morin, who was using half-a-gram of ice a day, was sitting on the couch and holding the same gun to his head when it accidentally went off.
He was rushed to hospital and when police investigated the accident they found the gun and were able to match cartridge cases to those found at the Noble Park scene.
Morin had his right eye removed and was left brain-damaged from the shooting but was still charged.
While on remand Morin was given a toxic dose of anti-seizure medication over 17 days and was rushed to hospital.
The judge said she was concerned about the behaviour of Corrections Victoria staff who prevented a neurosurgeon from visiting Morin in prison after the overdose.
“It gives me some disquiet in how you were treated in this respect,” Judge Cannon said.
She acknowledged his mobility and cognitive function were impaired but rejected the suggestion his needs were too complex to be treated in prison. The brain-damaged shooter has a long criminal history including priors for violence, robbery, assault with a weapon, assaulting police, drug trafficking and several firearms offences.
Morin pleaded guilty to using a firearm as a prohibited person, intentionally causing injury and recklessly endangering life.
He must serve two years and 10 months before he is eligible for parole.
Originally published as Family outburst at judge as brain-damaged shooter jailed: ‘Get f**ked’