Greek-Australian Dimitri Gatis, 22, who shot his younger brother Alex through the front window of their family home two years ago, has pleaded guilty to criminal negligence.
The incident took place on 22 July, 2019, in Adelaide.
At around 9.30am that day, Dimitri fired a gun through the front window of his family’s Lockleys home, hitting his brother in the chest and abdomen, causing an injury that required emergency surgery.
Mr Gatis, who has spent 18 months behind bars since the incident took place, was initially questioned by police and left the family home with one of his uncles.
Several hours later, supported by family members, the 22-year-old handed himself into the police detectives who charged him with attempted murder alongside drug trafficking and firearms offences.
READ MORE: Parents in ‘total shock’: 16-year-old Greek Australian shot inside his home by older brother
The brothers’ parents, Nick and Natalie Gatis, who were alerted to the incident in the early hours of the morning, were in Greece at the time of the shooting and were forced to make a mercy dash home to find one son in a serious condition in the emergency department of the Royal Adelaide Hospital and the other behind bars.
They were both in shock as they watched the incident unfolding live through home security cameras linked to their mobile devices.
Mr Dimitri Gatis, who did not apply for bail, admitted that he was suffering from self-induced intoxication at the time of the shooting.
During a hearing last April, the attempted murder charge was dropped, and Dimitri entered a guilty plea to the firearms and drug-related charges.
Last Friday, David Edwardson QC for Gatis, guided his client through the process of pleading not guilty to aggravated recklessly causing serious harm, but entering a guilty plea to causing serious harm by criminal negligence.
The guilty plea was accepted by the prosecution and the young man will now face sentencing submissions in the District Court.
The legal manoeuvre reduces the maximum penalty Dimitri is facing from 19 years in prison to four years.
The principal difference between the two charges is whether at the time of the offence the young man was so impaired by drug use that he could not be held criminally responsible.
The parents and friends of the family have been rallying around both siblings to help them through the tough months.
“We know the boys and the family really well and the news came as a shock to all of us. As expected, the last 18 months have been a nightmare for the boys and their parents, but they have the love and support of their friends and family. As a father, I think I speak on behalf of everyone when I say that you wouldn’t wish tragedy this upon your worst enemy,” said one of the family’s neighbours who wished to remain anonymous.
Mr Gatis will front court again in April.
