Bruce Scott.
A butcher's Olympic dream has been crushed after a judge
found him guilty of accidentally shooting his apprentice during
a homekill.
Bruce Scott was convicted and sentenced in the Waitakere
District Court for careless use of a firearm.
The charge related to an incident on a farm in Helensville,
West Auckland, in March. Scott accidentally shot his
assistant, Simon Alex, 18, after a bullet ricocheted after
hitting the head of a cow he was trying to kill.
The bullet ripped through Alex's upper body, puncturing his
left lung.
Alex nearly died twice during the ordeal but recovered after
Scott performed CPR with Westpac Rescue Helicopter
assistance.
Scott told the Herald on Sunday he was about 45m from two
wild and dangerous 5-year-old cattle when he fired his rifle.
"Alex was about [24m] from the cattle, up a gentle slope,"
Scott said. "He was instructed to go behind the shed. Simon
chose to come forward and watch.
"The bullet passed through the beast's skull then deviated
its flight path into Simon. If he had been where he was
instructed to be, he never would have been injured."
Scott pleaded guilty but requested a discharge without
conviction so he could fulfil his dream of trying to qualify
to compete in shooting at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in
2016.
He said he had never had an accident in the 15 years he had
slaughtered animals.
"This was a freak accident that could not be replicated, even
if someone tried to. How could I have prevented such a freak
accident?"
Alex initially supported his bid to avoid a conviction in an
affidavit but later changed his statement when their
relationship ended, he said.
"He went to work for the opposition and it all turned sour,"
Scott said.
"He has now made himself look real stupid in the community."
Scott offered to pay Alex $3000 compensation, which the judge
accepted.
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