Two youths accused of plotting a Columbine-style mass shooting against staff and students at their high school have walked free from court.
The pair, who cannot be named, had been in detention since their arrest in November 2017 over allegations they were plotting a massacre at their school in South Australia's Riverland region using homemade weapons and body armour.
The 18 and 20-year-old were due to stand trial accused of conspiring to murder but in February pleaded guilty to the downgraded charge of aggravated threatening of life after prosecutors conceded they never intended to carry out the shooting.
At the Supreme Court on Thursday, the relieved pair smiled at their families from the dock as Justice Kevin Nicholson imposed suspended six-month jail sentences on them both, along with three-year good behaviour bonds.
One of the men, 20, made no comment as he enjoyed his first few minutes of freedom leaving the Supreme Court on Thursday
Photos of the weapons arsenal (pictured) were shown in court last month ahead of sentencing
Strict conditions were imposed on the pair, including drug and alcohol monitoring.
The judge said the youths, who were 16 and 18 at the time of their offending, had wanted to create a fear that their plan would likely be carried out.
However, he said he accepted they never intended to commit murder or proceed with the 'expressed plan'.
'A clear message must be sent to young people in the community that this sort of behaviour is totally unacceptable,' Justice Nicholson said.
'Your plan was to frighten, to terrify and to present yourself to your school associates and perhaps the wider community as school
