The brother of a Christchurch man jailed for shooting two police officers and killing a police dog, has escaped a prison sentence on his own firearms charges.
Christopher Graeme Smith was sentenced to prison for 14 years for attempted murder and injuring with intent during a police search last year.
His brother, Steven Paul Smith, 32, was sentenced in Ashburton District Court on 2 December to 100 hours of community work and six months supervision on three charges of unlawfully possessing a firearm.
The Crown sought a prison term after the guns were found under Smith's bed but the defence said he did not know they were there.
Justice Whata noted that the guns not dangerous as they were inoperable.
