A 29-year-old man shot his friend with an air rifle on a "boys night" of drinking and then tried to cover it up, the Supreme Court in Launceston heard on Monday.
Devin Theodore Eilander, of Youngtown, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault of Courtney Hayes and to making a false statutory declaration to police in March 2018.
About 11pm, Mr Hayes said he was going to bed.
Eilander picked up the loaded air rifle and pointed it at Mr Hayes who was 10-15 metres away with the intention of stopping him from going to bed.
He fired the weapon and Mr Hayes immediately dropped to the ground saying: "I'm hurt, get some help".
Eilander checked his stomach and saw a small red hole in his stomach.
A third friend drove both men to the Launceston General Hospital and on the way the pair concocted a plan to tell police that Mr Hayes had shot himself.
Mr Hayes suffered a perforated bowel and was in hospital for six days.
The court heard that Eilander thought it would cause a small graze rather than a serious injury.
Defence counsel Evan Hughes said Mr Eilander and Mr Hayes had been friends for 10 years and remained friends.
"It was a boy's night at the complainant's address," he said.
"Mr Hayes said he was heading to bed and Mr Eilander picked up the air rifle and as a prank or joke that went horribly wrong said 'no you're not' , teasing him that he was going to bed while everyone else was still up."
He said Eilander had voluntarily agreed to correct the statement he made to police.
Justice Robert Pearce told Eilander that he was not going to sentence him to jail but sought a report on whether he was suitable for community service.
Sentencing was adjourned until May 8 at 10am.
Nick Clark
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
