A man has been sentenced to prison following a tragic incident where a gun he had hidden was discovered by his child, leading to the accidental shooting and death of his pregnant partner.
Kiara Ferguson, aged 27, was fatally shot just below the eye in the bathroom of her residence in Shepparton, Victoria, Australia. The gun, a homemade firearm that had never been fired before, discharged when Ms. Ferguson confronted her partner, Adam Winmar, after their four-year-old found the weapon hidden in the sofa.
During the confrontation in the bathroom, Ms. Ferguson dropped the loaded firearm, causing it to discharge and strike her below the eye. Despite Winmar’s efforts to save her by calling emergency services and performing CPR, Ms. Ferguson passed away in the bathroom on April 1, 2023.
The judge criticized Winmar for storing the gun in a location easily accessible to their children, labeling it as a “profoundly stupid” decision that endangered their lives. Winmar, who admitted to reckless conduct endangering life and possessing a firearm as a prohibited person, received a three-month jail term and a 12-month community corrections order.
Prosecutors revealed that Winmar had a history of substance abuse and criminal offenses, including assaults and choking incidents. The judge noted that Winmar’s remorse and the loss of Ms. Ferguson, coupled with the inability to see his children, had already inflicted significant punishment on him.
Judge Croucher expressed confidence that Winmar would never again have a loaded gun at his premises or store a firearm in such a negligent manner.