AN Edgeworth man has admitted to shooting a former family friend in both legs during a confrontation that detectives said escalated from a planned fist fight into a bushland ambush.
Brayden James Leschinkohl, now 28, had last year denied all charges relating to the kneecapping of a 39-year-old man off O'Donnelltown Road, at West Wallsend, and was expected to face a trial in Newcastle District Court next month.
But on Thursday afternoon, during the court's super callover, Leschinkohl was re-arraigned and pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent after prosecutors agreed to drop a charge of possessing a loaded firearm in a public place.
Leschinkohl remains behind bars and will be sentenced in August.
Police had said Leschinkohl and the 39-year-old man had known each other for years and were family friends, but had become embroiled in a bitter dispute in September 2024.
The pair argued over the phone, exchanging threats and attempted to meet up in person for a fight on September 26.
After some back and forth, the 39-year-old went to O'Donnelltown Road, a long stretch that heads out of West Wallsend into bushland, where he found Leschinkohl at a property.
Police say the pair were a few metres apart when the 39-year-old noticed Leschinkohl was holding a black pump-action shotgun.
"What are you going to do?" the 39-year-old said, according to police. "Shoot me?"
Leschinkohl then took a step forward and shot the 39-year-old in the right leg.
"Why the f--- did you do that," the 39-year-old said, according to police. "You just shot me. Can you get me an ambulance?"
Leschinkohl was then accused of shooting the 39-year-old in his left leg, causing him to fall onto his knees.
Leschinkohl then left in a car, while his mother, Leah Vicki Leschinkohl, pocketed at least one shotgun shell and called an ambulance.
Emergency services received a number of calls that someone had been shot on O'Donnelltown Road and arrived to find the 39-year-old badly injured in nearby bush.
He was taken to John Hunter Hospital with wounds to both legs and underwent a number of surgeries before he was discharged on October 18.
