Judge says hunter had 'substantial punishment’

Press, 25 August 1988, Page 12

Judge says hunter had 'substantial punishment’

PA Rotorua A man who accidentally shot a hunting companion at Lake Rotokawa earlier this year, had already received “substantial punishment” from the death, Judge Gilbert said in the District Court at Rotorua yesterday. William Elsdon Wyatt, aged 36, a plasterer, had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of careless use of a firearm, causing death. He was fined $5OO, and sentenced to 140 hours of community service. Judge Gilbert said the sentence would not go toward assisting the family of the victim, Mur-

ray William Patterson. But, he said he accepted defence counsel’s submissions that the defendant was still upset and remorseful over the accident.

Counsel, Mr David Dowthwaite, said his client had been duck shooting on May 9. The group had made a camp on an island in Lake Rotokawa.

They were waiting for some ducks to appear when the defendant decided to move out of the shelter towards Mr Patterson a few metres away.

He was crouching down loading his double-bar-

relied shotgun when it went off. Mr Patterson was hit in the back and was killed almost instantly.

Mr Dowthwaite said his client thought he had the safety catch engaged when he had been loading the gun. The defendant was taken to Rotorua-Hospital suffering from shock after the incident.

“It is but another illustration of the dire consequences that can follow from a second or two’s inattention — in this case a lack of care from a hunter,” Judge Gilbert said.