Melbourne boxing match shooter walks free from court

Mikhael Myko, 29, on Thursday pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to recklessly causing serious injury over the March 2019 incident at Kensington's Melbourne Pavilion.

Myko fired four shots at a 29-year-old man just inside the foyer of the venue, with two of the bullets striking the man's abdomen and leg.

Another one of Myko's associates then stomped on the man's head before Myko struck the man's face with his gun.

The victim was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and spent six days in intensive care where he underwent surgery to remove bullet fragments from his abdomen.

The shooting inside the foyer immediately followed another incident out the front of the Melbourne Pavilion where Benjamin Togiai was fatally shot.

Abdullah El Nasher was earlier this month found guilty of Mr Togiai's murder and intentionally causing serious injury to another man.

The court was told there had been tension at the boxing event between El Nasher and Myko's group on table 28 and another group on table 64 that included Myko's victim and Mr Togiai.

Myko fled to NSW after the shooting but was arrested and charged a week later.

He initially denied the offending but pleaded guilty to the downgraded charge of recklessly causing serious injury earlier this year.

Justice Christopher Beale noted Myko's plea was relatively early, considering he was initially charged with attempted murder.

The 29-year-old had already spent 806 days in pre-sentence detention before he was released on bail.

Myko had steered away from using drugs and associating with bad peer groups throughout his 677 days on bail, Justice Beale said in his sentencing remarks.

It would be counterproductive for his rehabilitation prospects to send him back to prison, the justice said.

Myko was sentenced to 806 days in jail, which was reckoned as already served.

Australian Associated Press