A man who shot his Hawke's Bay friend in the elbow on the first day of the duck-shooting season has escaped prison.
Cameron King was on a shooting expedition with friends on private property near Masterton on May 2 when the incident took place.
He was charged with causing bodily
injury by careless use of a firearm.
The 44-year-old, who had known the victim since primary school, had earlier pleaded guilty, with his lawyer saying he was "very sorry" for what happened.
At the Manukau District Court yesterday, King was sentenced to six months' community detention and 200 hours of community work.