A Tuhoe leader has been acquitted of taking the law into his own hands to punish deer poachers.
Douglas Erueti Tamihana, 47, manager of Ruatahuna, was on trial in Rotorua District Court this week after pleading not guilty to four counts of threatening to kill four Auckland hunters, recklessly discharging a firearm, assault using a firearm and shooting at a Hughes 500 helicopter.
The jury returned its not guilty verdicts on all seven charges after deliberating for three hours on Thursday.
The hunters, Lyndsay Seymour, Peter Larsen and brothers Colin and Terry Green, had previously pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful hunting.
Tamihana was charged after an incident on June 2 last year at White's Clearing, southeast of Ruatahuna and adjacent to the Urewera National Park.
Tamihana looks after White's Clearing, which is private property owned by Tuhoe.
The hunters landed in the clearing and began shooting at deer. The Crown said the hunters were not aware White's Clearing was private property.
Mr Seymour, the pilot, saw a ute coming towards the helicopter about 300m away.
The Crown said Tamihana fired at the helicopter and one shot hit its tail.
He was also accused of threatening to kill the men and assaulting one of them with a firearm.
Murray McKechnie, who represented Tamihana, said his client did not intend to assault the hunter and did not threaten to kill them.
He said Tamihana's action stemmed from his right to protect his property.
- NZPA
Gun law accused found not guilty
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