Editorial: How life changes in a split second

The accidental death of Connor Phillips is one his grandfather will live with for the rest of his life.

Today's story of the Phillips family of Reporoa is heartbreakingly sad.

Generations out hunting, enjoying each other's company and the outdoors, as they no doubt had done many times before.

Then, a split-second decision to take a closer look at a jammed gun, and suddenly a young life is gone and an extended family is left shattered.

There but for the grace of God go they, some may have thought.

Many people's overriding emotion towards Brian Phillips, who was sentenced yesterday after accidentally shooting and killing his 11-year-old grandson Connor, would be empathy or sympathy. As he said, no court could impose on him a greater punishment than he has imposed on himself.

In saying that, the decision by Judge Tony Snell to refuse Phillips' application for a discharge without conviction was the correct one in my view.

Imprisonment would not have achieved anything, as Connor's parents told the judge through a letter read out in court.

But I believe a conviction along with the sentence of community detention was appropriate and necessary.

The purpose of sentencing in a criminal case is never limited to simply punishing an individual. It's also about denunciation and, importantly in this case, wider deterrence.

New Zealand has seen too many hunting deaths from accidental shootings.

If something positive can come of this tragedy, it's if one more grandfather, father or brother gets the message you can never be too careful when hunting.

As this case shows, when guns are concerned the consequences of a split-second decision can be catastrophic.