A Supreme Court justice has described a woman involved in a 17-hour siege at Trevallyn as " the victim of these events, rather than the perpetrator" as he sentenced her to a community corrections order.
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Nomi Lea Mountney, 42, was sentenced in the Launceston Supreme Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to recklessly discharging a firearm and related summary offences.
Her rental property on New World Avenue was the scene of the siege carried out by Brett Julian Robinson-Stacey on December 7 and 8 in 2018.
Robinson-Stacey fired about 34 shots from a sawn-off rifle, including one that came close to a nearby police officer.
Mountney herself fired one shot from her hip through an open window about two hours into the siege, which she claimed was to "placate" Robinson-Stacey, and Justice Robert Pearce said this was misguided.
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"It is difficult to imagine why, about two hours into the siege, you would pick up the firearm and fire it yourself," he said.
"I accept that the shot you fired was into the air. Little actual danger was caused."
Mountney repeatedly tried to convince Robinson-Stacey to give himself up and she took part in negotiations with police and his lawyer, the court heard.
She also had no idea about Robinson-Stacey having shot someone in the leg before he arrived at her house with police looking for him.
As the siege entered its second day, Mountney developed "a legitimate fear" that Robinson-Stacey would use her, or the threat of harming her, as a means of getting a better outcome from the siege.
When Robinson-Stacey threatened to shoot her, the Special Operations Group stormed the house and the siege ended.
Mountney spent a total of 16 days in custody.
Justice Robert Pearce said her role was unclear at the time and she had been charged with more serious offences, which were later withdrawn.
He was confident Mountney could return to being a "valuable member of the community" if given the right support by the court.
"For the most part you were the victim of these events, rather than the perpetrator," Justice Pearce said.
"These events have already had a significant effect on your life. You lost your home and employment. Your studies have been interrupted. You are unsure whether you will ever be able to return to the career you were planning to pursue."
Mountney was convicted and placed on an 18-month community corrections order.
- Note: an earlier version of this article stated the firearm involved in this incident was a shortened "shotgun", but it was a shortened "rifle". The judge's sentencing remarks make reference to police pursuing Robinson-Stacey for having shot "someone" in the leg
Adam Holmes
From Adelaide to south-west Victoria, Bendigo to Tasmania, I've provided in-depth stories in politics, environmental affairs, issues facing disadvantaged communities, legal affairs and much more. Contact me at adam.holmes@examiner.com.au or on Twitter at @adamholmes010
From Adelaide to south-west Victoria, Bendigo to Tasmania, I've provided in-depth stories in politics, environmental affairs, issues facing disadvantaged communities, legal affairs and much more. Contact me at adam.holmes@examiner.com.au or on Twitter at @adamholmes010
