Bill Douglas Prentice White died after being mistaken for a deer.
Bill Douglas Prentice White died after being mistaken for a deer.
KEY POINTS:
A Nelson hunter was today convicted of fatally shooting a friend after mistaking him for a deer last month.
In Nelson District Court, Shane Ian Phibbs, 39, admitted a charge of causing the death of William Douglas White, 40, of Stoke, Nelson, by carelessly using a firearm, a.308 Sarco 75 hunter rifle.
The two men were on an annual week-long deer hunting trip with Mr White's brother in the Rough River area, west of Reefton when the targedy happened.
The men had hunted together for about 20 years and knew the area well.
The court heard the three men spoke about safety procedures, including the wearing of orange high visibility hats, before dispersing into three defined hunting areas, Mr White in an area north of the base camp and Phibbs to the south.
Around 4pm Phibbs settled by a group of trees and saw movement 60 to 65 metres from his position. Using a scope he saw what he thought was the head, neck and shoulders of a deer, shot it and saw it fall.
When he reached the site he found Mr White lying dead on the ground.
Phibbs and Mr White's brother were forced to wait until the next day to trek out and raise the alarm.
Phibbs told police he was sure he had seen a deer and that he was "always so careful."
Earlier police said Mr White was wearing khaki clothing and had a high visibility cap, although it was unclear whether he had been wearing it.
Defence counsel Garry Barkle said Phibbs had asked him to convey his sincere and deep apologies over the death of Mr White, a close friend.
He said he had met with Mr White's wife and conveyed deep remorse.
"He has done everything he can to this point to put things right," Mr Barkle said.
Phibbs was convicted and remanded to July 17 for sentencing.
Pre-sentence and emotional harm reports were requested, and leave was given for a restorative justice report to be held in tandem.
