Hunter who killed best friend sentenced to home detention

+1 to this. Tragic yes, avoidable yes, but to blame the government rather than the irresponsible individual is wrong.

 

Sorry, I may have mis-stated what I meant. I think someone said they thought night hunting is legal in New Zealand. It is next to impossible to make sure of your background in the dark, so maybe any law permitting night hunting should be revisited. It is still ultimately the hunter's responsibility to make sure his/her background is safe before pointing a weapon.

 

I dont' care what state or country you're in. When it comes to shooting a gun at something with the intent to kill it, you better know for sure what it is you're intending to kill (without a doubt). Who cares how its governed afterwords! A human life is on the line. Being an idiot and different laws really doesn't apply in this case.

 

Well we know it doesn't apply in your mind. Obviously, it does apply in the courts of New Zealand. LOL

 

Nobody said what they thought an appropriate consequence should be.

 

I am surprised you don't blame the victim for having shiny eyes ....

 

Within the bounds of what is legal in N.Z., I am still thinking it sounds like it was an accident. Avoidable? Yes, absolutely! stupid, senseless, tragic waste of life. Should night hunting be allowed? I don't know, I'd say no, but I don't know all the circumstances which make it legal in N.Z.. Again, the ultimate responsibility falls on the hunters to exercise safety and both of them, evidently, were willing participants . Something just went really wrong in either their planning (both of their planning) or the execution (pardon the pun). It is sad, yes, but I don't think I would be in favor of treating the man as a criminal when it really was an accident, however that may be defined. Criminally he is innocent, because he wasn't committing a crime. How would this go down here in the States? No criminal charges woud be filed, but he would be held responsible in a civil court. And yes, both parties were participants in something stupid and part of the blame sadly does go to the one shot (not victim, that implies a criminal act occurred). I, for one, think the N.Z. courts got this more right than wrong. I would add removal of hunting privileges for a specified length of time but I believe it is a potential civil case and should be tried as such.

 

Reuben Kenneth James Burke, 25, was also sentenced to 300 hours' community work, ordered to pay $10,000 emotional harm reparation to the family of Dougal Sisston Stanfield Fyfe, 23, forfeit the .22 calibre rifle used in the incident to the Crown and had his firearms licence cancelled by Judge Kevin Phillips in Queenstown District Court this morning.

 

I'm capable of gathering facts before JUMPING to a conclusion.... You should likewise try it sometime... :D
And I'm certainly not going to blame the government for an individual's mistake.

 

You really believe this, don't you?