A Tongan man had been given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to discharging a firearm with intent to intimidate.
The incident occurred on 18 September 2024, when Tu’ipulotu Palu, intoxicated and frustrated by a group of noisy youths, fired a shotgun in their direction.
The court heard that Palu had been asleep at his home when he was disturbed by youths who were causing a disturbance near a nearby Chinese store.
Lord Chief Justice Bishop acknowledged that this was not the first time the accused had been disrupted by such behaviour.
Reacting angrily, Palu emerged from his property holding a 12-gauge shotgun.
He pointed the weapon at the group, shouting that he would shoot them and “go to prison with the gun.”
While some of the youths fled, Palu chased them and discharged the firearm.
Police later found him intoxicated, with the shotgun placed on a chair near his doorstep.
A pre-sentence report revealed that Palu had initially migrated to New Zealand but was deported in 2005.
He later married, had five children, and is now separated, with sole custody of his youngest child.
The report stated that he was deeply remorseful for his actions, which the judge accepted.
In sentencing, Judge Bishop noted Tu’ipulotu’s intoxication at the time—having consumed three to four beers—as a contributing factor.
Considering his remorse, lack of prior violent offences, and family responsibilities, the court handed him a suspended sentence with strict conditions, including alcohol counselling and community service.
The judge warned Palu that any further offending would result in immediate imprisonment.
