The Southland hunter who accidentally shot and killed a member of another hunting party has pleaded guilty to carelessly using a firearm causing death.
During a brief appearance in the Invercargill District Court today, Judge Christina Cook convicted Wayne Edgerton (56), of Tuatapere, and remanded him on bail for sentencing on June 24.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Denise Harvey said Edgerton told police he had "broken the cardinal rule of hunting'' when he failed to correctly identify his target in the Longwoods, Western Southland on Sunday, April 13.
He mistook Adam Hill (25) for a deer and shot him once in the chest, causing massive internal injuries.
Mr Hill died immediately despite attempts by his hunting companion and Edgerton's group to help him.
- Full story tomorrow's Otago Daily Times
