A Canberra father who took part in a "terrifying" attack on an innocent family, during which a man was shot, will be eligible for parole in July next year.
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Paul John Fredrickson, 35, was arrested earlier this month after he and his best mate Benjamin Hallam went around to a Dunlop residence on May 30; Fredrickson, armed with a baseball bat and Hallam armed with a shotgun.
Chief ACT Magistrate Lorraine Walker on Tuesday said the pair had gone there "with nothing but the word of a drunk woman", Isabella Denis, who claimed she had been bashed by "five black guys".
Ms Walker said in reality, Denis' account was far from the truth. She'd knocked on the door of the Dunlop family's home and said, "Oh, sorry, wrong house", before she lied down on the road.
Ms Walker said a man and a woman inside the home came out and tried to assist Denis, but she was "very rude in her response", telling them to "f--- off" before she struck the man in the face.
Later, she complained to Hallam, who enlisted Fredrickson to go with him and "find out what was going on".
When the pair arrived at the house, Fredrickson smashed a glass inset by the front door with a baseball bat and, after he tussled with the man inside, Hallam shot through the door, hitting the man in the chest.
In a victim impact statement read aloud to the court on Tuesday, the man said he felt he would live with the incident for the rest of his life.
His teenage son was forced to rush to his aid after Hallam shot him.
"It was such a shock for people to invade my home and disturb my family," the victim said.
"My granddaughter [who was eight at the time of the incident] no longer feels safe without [my wife and I] around."
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Fredrickson pleaded guilty to damaging the window, possessing the bat with intent to damage property, and attempting to destroy or conceal evidence.
On Tuesday, Ms Walker said police found the baseball bat floating in West Belconnen Pond after the incident and, later, while en route to the watch house, Fredrickson voluntarily agreed to show them where Hallam had ditched the shotgun.
She acknowledged Fredrickson had no part in the actual shooting - he initially didn't know Hallam had the shotgun - but nonetheless, she said Fredrickson "effectively invaded someone's home".
"You had armed yourself to approach the house of these innocent people," Ms Walker said.
"[The couple's granddaughter] found herself sitting in the room as glass smashed ... I can infer that she would have been terrified."
Ms Walker sentenced Fredrickson to a total 18 months in prison, with the sentence set to expire in March 2022.
Hallam pleaded guilty last week to several charges that stemmed from the incident, while Denis was convicted of common assault and damaging property and handed a good behaviour in August.
She also had no involvement in the shooting itself.
Cassandra Morgan
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
