A Canberra man shot by police during a violent domestic dispute has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge after prosecutors agreed to drop an allegation of attempted murder. Tom Hohoi had been accused of trying to kill a woman with a mattock outside a home in Holder in January last year.
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Police turned up at the house after receiving reports of a domestic disturbance and spotted the 51-year-old approaching the victim armed with the tool.
The officers told him to drop the weapon, and tried to subdue him with capsicum spray to no effect.
The victim fell to the ground, and police say Hohoi was shot as he raised the mattock to allegedly try to hit her.
The man suffered a partially collapsed lung, two bullet holes to his diaphragm and damage to part of his liver.
He had initially been charged with attempted murder and an alternative charge of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm.
Hohoi pleaded not guilty and had been due to stand trial in the ACT Supreme Court.
But assistant DPP John Lundy on Tuesday presented a fresh indictment in the case and withdrew the other charges.
Hohoi instead pleaded guilty to intentionally and unlawfully using an offensive weapon likely to cause grievous bodily harm a sentence carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years.
Justice John Burns vacated the looming trial date and listed the case for sentence in February.
Hohoi has remained in custody since the shooting.
