The father of a Napier teenager killed in a hunting accident has asked for the man who shot him not to be sent to prison.
Garth John Porter, 53, self-employed, also of Napier, pleaded guilty in Napier District Court today to carelessly using a firearm causing the death of his daughter's boyfriend, Aron Timms, 18.
Aron's father Brian Timms said he did not believe Porter belonged in prison.
"He's a nice family man with kids of his own...If he was some stranger then I might say `Lock him up', but I know this guy doesn't belong in prison," he told The Dominion Post.
"Nothing the judge does will bring Aron back...The best thing that could come from this is that it may prevent one hunter from making the same mistake Garth did."
Porter and Aron Timms were hunting in the Tarawera Ranges on March 15 when Porter thought he saw a deer.
He fired a shot killing Aron Timms who was leaning against a cabbage tree.
Porter was remanded at large to appear for sentence on July 29.
