A dispute over dodgy drugs, cash, and a missing ring led to an argument where a man was shot in his home, which was later found to be hiding a cannabis growing operation.
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Clinton Thomas Boswell, 39, was this week jailed for at least four years and two months after shooting Justin Blake Smith on January 5 last year.
Albury District Court heard Boswell had attended Smith's Hicks Place home, with a sawn-off gun and bullet in the front of his jumper.
Boswell had been with Matthew John Groves, who had sold the victim dodgy ice worth $400 a few days earlier.
The victim had been angered by the poor quality of the drugs.
"That s--- you sold me was pathetic bro and I was actually thinking of giving you back something of yours that fell into my hands but you can go f--- yourself!" he told Groves in a message.
The victim had the dealer's ring and they spoke about fixing the situation in the home, but tensions escalated.
Smith held up the cleaver and said they should go outside and sort the issue out.
Boswell was told to leave, as the situation had nothing to do with him.
"I can't do that," he replied.
Smith asked, "you wanna have a f---en whack do ya?" which led Boswell to get out the gun, load it, and shoot Smith through the hand.
A bullet passed through and lodged in his thigh, causing him to scream in pain.
Despite what occurred, the court heard Boswell, Groves and driver Stephen Evans picked up a pizza on the way home.
Boswell told police he threw the gun - which he had bought from a drug dealer for $50 a day earlier while contemplating suicide - out the window of the car.
A day after the shooting, a friend told Boswell he should hand himself in and took him to Albury Police Station.
Boswell told investigators that the victim had been "swinging the meat cleaver around so furiously, he was scared for his own and Groves' safety".
Judge Sean Grant said there was a question why Boswell had armed himself.
"Why did he go there with a firearm?" he asked.
"It's completely unexplained at this stage."
Boswell's lawyer, Neal Funnell, said "if he didn't go there with a firearm we wouldn't have this situation".
Judge Grant noted the shooter's history with drugs, which began at age 13 when a family friend injected him with speed.
He moved to meth and has used heroin, MDMA and LSD.
The court Boswell had been "smashed" on ice for two weeks before the shooting.
"It was a serious case of wounding," Judge Grant said.
"He had an opportunity to desist and retreat, but he did not."
He said there was no legitimate purpose for someone to own a sawn-off gun, which were particular dangerous given the ability to conceal them.
Boswell will remain in custody until at least March 8, 2023.
His parole won't expire until January 8, 2026.
