mmg.com.au

A woman shot by police after threatening bystanders with a knife last year was yesterday sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment.

The sentencing magistrate said the police made the correct decision and had suffered ‘‘massively’’ as a result of having to shoot her.

Cyra Misty Lee, 24, of Shepparton, appeared in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to reckless conduct endangering lives.

On July 29 last year, police officers were called to The Boulevard in Shepparton, where Ms Lee had a knife.

She was shot and left with a pelvis shattered in 25 places, lost three knuckles from her right hand and also lost the use of her left hand because of tendon damage.

At a committal mention in November, informant Detective Leading Senior Constable Stephen Howe was cross-examined and said Ms Lee had told him in a police interview she had wanted to ‘‘suicide by cop’’.

He said Ms Lee’s boyfriend at the time had asked her to move out and she had taken prescription medications before grabbing a knife and going out into the street.

Yesterday, Ms Lee sat in the dock, occasionally fidgeting and shaking, and did not use her crutches as she has at past appearances.

Her defence lawyer Graeme Davis said his client was ‘‘embarrassed’’ to have to use crutches.

Prosecutor Marwon El Asmar tendered eight victim impact statements yesterday, including two from police officers called to the scene.

He noted a psychological report said Ms Lee ‘‘continues to pose a high risk to the community and to herself’’ and would benefit from programs offered at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, where she will serve her term.

Mr Davis said his client has taken steps to improve her health since the incident and had the support of her family.

‘‘Her conduct was personally distressing to others, but also ultimately destructive to herself. It’s a case of victim against victim,’’ he said.

Magistrate Terry Wilson said Ms Lee had a traumatic upbringing and several psychological problems, but that did not excuse the suffering she had caused others.

‘‘You have had a massive impact on the people involved on this day and on the police called there,’’ he said.

‘‘You wanted to die ... you said, ‘Shoot me, kill me.’

‘‘The police have been forced to shoot you, and rightfully so.

‘‘It’s had a massive impact on the female officer, who was pregnant at the time.’’

Magistrate Wilson said police officers had a difficult job and also had to deal with backlash from such an incident.

‘‘Police officers don’t have the same community support they once did. It wasn’t a simple case of them doing their job,’’ he said.

‘‘From a personal point of view, the officers who shot you are sorry they had to shoot you.

‘‘I hope you get the help you need for your problems, so it doesn’t happen again when you are released.’’

Ms Lee was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment and has already served 193 days.