18 February 2004

Australia: Somebody found a really lenient judge:
A teenager who seriously injured two classmates with a crossbow has been found not guilty of attempted murder in the Supreme Court in Newcastle.

The youth was facing five charges after shooting his ex-girlfriend with a crossbow at Tomaree high school last April.

The girl was wounded in her chest while another girl was injured in the legs.

In handing down his verdict in the judge-only trial, Justice Graham Barr told the court he was satisfied the boy was telling the truth when he said he wanted to harm but not kill his former girlfriend.

Justice Barr has instead accepted the accused's guilty plea to malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The boy will also be convicted of the same charge for wounding his second victim and illegally possessing a prohibited weapon in the form of a crossbow.

He has been acquitted of charges relating to throwing a petrol bomb after the initial attack.
Cuz', you know, when you shoot someone in the chest with a crossbow you wouldn't be aiming for the heart, lungs, major arteries, etc.

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