Mother sentenced for giving 9-year-old daughter a gun

File photo / NZ Herald

The actions of a woman who gave her daughter a gun and told her to shoot the man she accused of assaulting her have been called "incomprehensible" by a judge.

The 26-year-old woman, who was granted permanent name suppression in Masterton District Court today, was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm and one charge of ill-treatment of a child under 16.

Judge Peter Hobbs said the woman was at home with her daughter when the "spur of the moment" incident occurred.

"You retrieved a firearm and took it outside and told your daughter to come outside also," he said.

The woman had hoped to "scare" her 9-year-old daughter into telling the truth about allegations the girl had made against the woman's partner.

The woman also told the girl she would be given away to another family.

"Your actions on that day are incomprehensible ... not to mention potentially dangerous to all concerned," Judge Hobbs said.

The woman was sentenced to 150 hours' community work and nine months' supervision.

The girl is now staying with other family.

The woman and her partner, 27, were accused of giving a rifle to the girl after she approached her mother claiming the man assaulted her on February 5.

The claim was not believed by the mother.

Instead, the couple allegedly gave the girl a rifle and told her that if she was telling the truth then she should shoot the man.