Melbourne shooting victim's family denounces sentence

The family of a would-be burglar who was shot by a factory owner in Melbourne's north has labelled the killer's sentence ridiculous.

Wade Vandenberg's family stormed from court, after his killer was jailed for eight years with a minimum of four and a half years.

"I'm angry, it's ridiculous, he's a murderer," his sister, Mollie Vandenberg, said.

Ivan D'Angelo was found not guilty of murder by a jury but pleaded guilty to manslaughter, which has a 20 year maximum.

He shot Vandenberg, who was with a friend using boltcutters to break in to the Thomastown factory to steal a car.

D'Angelo, a recreational shooter, had smoked 68 bongs and drank 42 stubbies in the 24 hours before he aimed his .22 out of an upstairs window and fired.

"It is relevant to note that the circumstances came to you while you were asleep in your bed," Justice Lex Lasry said.

"You did not seek the tragic confrontation which occured.

"I accept that you were frightened and your actions were the product of a feeling of panic."

Justice Lasry condemned these actions but assessed D'Angelo's risk of reoffending to be very low, pointing out the crime came to him and he has no priors convictions.

But he did send a message to the wider community about property protection.

"The idea that a person who is heavily intoxicated would choose a firearm rather than the phone as a first option to protect themselves is something the community must realize is likely to result in tragedy and, if it does, in significant punishment."