Fatal selfie: Wannabe gangster jailed after he accidentally shot friend in face with shotgun
A wannabe gangster who was high on drugs accidentally shot his friend in the head while posing for selfies with a sawn-off shotgun in a Melbourne hotel room.
Albert Rapovski, 20, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his good friend Mahamd Hassan, 22, who he shot in the face and neck on March 5.
"Drugs, guns and stupidity do not mix," Victorian Supreme Court Justice Michael Croucher said in court.
A friend of Rapovski's also posed for a selfie with a shotgun. Photo: 7 News
Rapovski has been jailed for eight years for the tragic consequences of his "breathtaking lack of judgement", but could serve as little as five years.
He had invited Mr Hassan and others to join him in the Bundoora hotel where the friends smoked cannabis, talked and posed "like gangsters" with Rapovski's unlicensed 12-gauge shotgun.
When he arrived, Mr Hassan had told Rapovski to unload the gun in case he accidentally shot someone.
Rapovski, who had taken GHB and ice, told Mr Hassan the safety catch was on.
Mr Hassan had ecstasy and cannabis in his system
Albert Rapovski (centre) poses with friend Mahamd Hassan (right) and another friend (left) inside the hotel room. Photo: 7 News
Mr Hassan had told Rapovski (pictured) to unload the gun in case he accidentally shot someone.Photo: 7 News
The gun was "cracked open" and Mr Hassan removed two cartridges.
He and Rapovski posed for a photo, with the gun pointed at Mr Hassan.
As Mr Hassan held out his mobile phone to capture the shot the gun fired and was shot in the head and died.
Rapovski screamed and fled.
Mahamd Hassan (pictured) had ecstasy and cannabis in his system. Photo: 7 News
Justice Croucher said he was unable to find beyond reasonable doubt exactly what happened in the hotel room.
On the crown case, Rapovski knew the gun was loaded but didn't expect it to discharge when he pulled the trigger.
The defence said Rapovski may have accidentally pulled the trigger, he may not have thought the gun was loaded, or he may have believed the safety mechanism would prevent it from firing.
Justice Croucher said Mr Hassan's death was the result of Rapovski's stupidity, not violence.
"Mr Rapovski had no intent to harm Mr Hassan," Justice Croucher said.
"He was his friend."
"Mr Rapovski had no intent to harm Mr Hassan (pictured) ," Justice Croucher said. Photo: 7 News
The court had previously heard Rapovski thought about Mr Hassan every day and would never forgive himself for the hurt he had caused.
Justice Croucher accepted Rapovski was remorseful but noted he had initially tried to flee the country.
While he said some of this could be put down to youthful panic and a reasonable fear of the consequences of his actions, he had failed in his moral duty to his friend and his friend's family to report the death.
