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.
