Boy injured after putting gun to head

The BBC reports that a Newport father has been jailed for five years after his 15-year-old stepson accidentally shot himself in the head while posing for photos with a gun. He failed to check it was loaded before asking the child to put the weapon against his head for the pictures.

The boy has made a “remarkable recovery” but may suffer future medical problems.

The child in this case might well have a claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. Whilst the incident does not (at first sight) fit into the normal “crime of violence” criterion which is required by the CICA, before they make an award, the step father did admit to child cruelty. The child would also have a claim against his step father in negligence and possibly also assault. Such a claim however would depend on the existence of considerable resources, which the step father would need in order to pay a claim of this nature.