A man who shot dead a prison escapee at a home near Hobart during a scuffle and then spent six days on the run has been jailed for eight years.
David Ian Charles Coles, 45, was originally charged with murder before pleading guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter over 26-year-old Nicholas Scott's death on January 3, 2023.
Scott had the previous day absconded from police guard at the Royal Hobart Hospital, where he was being treated for self-harm, after asking to use the toilet.
He ended up at a friend's house at Granton, some 20km north of the city.
Coles arrived at the home with a loaded double-barrel shotgun, taken to protect Scott's friend who was having "difficulties" with another person.
Coles was struck with a bottle by Scott, who was paranoid after taking methamphetamine.
Coles, disorientated from the blow, got the gun from inside the house and shot Scott once in the chest from close range before throwing the weapon over the fence.
In sentencing in the Supreme Court of Tasmania on Thursday, Acting Justice David Porter said all the men were in a very heightened state and there were threats on both sides.
Coles said "I'll f***ing kill you next time scum. Do you want another one? Of course you do, you f***ing c***" after firing.
He left on a motorbike and withdrew $10,000 from his bank account.
Justice Porter said Coles did not plan or foresee the incident and the state had accepted there was a real chance he did not know the shot was likely to cause death.
Justice Porter said Coles knew Scott, a father-of-one, from their time in jail.
Coles had a disadvantaged and highly traumatic childhood and adolescence, spending time at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre.
He has spent most of his adult life in custody, with "considerable" previous drug nd dishonesty offending, including jail time for aggravated burglary with a gun.
Justice Porter said Coles had shown signs of rehabilitation and a more stable life.
He will be eligible for parole after serving four years of the sentence which was backdated to May.
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