Is a jail sentence fair for the 'manslaughter' hunter?
9:01 AM Thursday Feb 3, 2011
Andrew Mears pleaded guilty to a firearms charge in the Taupo District Court over the death of Rosemary Ives. Photo / Ben Fraser, Daily Post
Andrew Mears has been sentenced in the High Court at Rotorua to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
Mears, 26, and three friends had been using a spotlight on the back of a ute to hunt for deer in the Kaimanawa Forest Park when Mears spotted what he thought was a deer in the bush.
He fired his .243 Remington rifle. The deer eyes turned out to be the head torch of Rosemary Ives, who died of brain injuries. She was shot dead while brushing her teeth at a camping ground
Is a jail sentence fair for the 'manslaughter' hunter? Here is the latest selection of Your Views:
Huia Gold Coast (Queensland) |
10:01AM Thursday, 03 Feb 2011
One moment of stupidity costs a young woman her life. For all the strict rules concerning who may have a firearms license and who does not means little when you have people flouting the rules. The shooter who in all probability is not really a bad young guy is left to cop it all on his own. No its not fair?
Arrie (New Zealand) |
10:04AM Thursday, 03 Feb 2011
He should have gotten a lot longer for this crime. The woman is dead! He ended her life too soon, he should have to pay a higher price than this.
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I just dont like that there are many other people who have as a result of careless actions died (car accidents, drunken fights), or who have had intentions of causing harm resulting in death which appear to get convictions jail terms which are less severe then the sentence handed to this hunter who has from the start realised his mistake and owned up and has admited guilt unlkike many others who show no heart at all.
3 months jail term and no ability to have a gun license ever again as well as the lifetime of guilt he will have to endure is a fair punishment in my eyes.