The Southland hunter who shot a fellow deerstalker after mistaking him for a deer earlier this year has been sentenced to seven months home detention, 400 hours of community service and ordered to pay $10,000 to his victim's partner.
On April 13 Wayne Edgerton from Tuatapere mistook Adam Hill, 25, for a deer and shot him while hunting in the Longwood Forest in Western Southland.
Earlier Edgerton pleaded guilty of reckless use of a firearm causing death.
Several victim impact reports read to the Invercargill District Court yesterday talked about the impact of losing a young man and Edgerton's stupidity, and they asked that he be imprisoned.
On hearing the sentence delivered by Judge Michael Turner, several people walked from the court muttering their dissatisfaction.
Judge Turner described the incident as Edgerton, a well known local gun safety advocate, as having a momentary lapse of care which had tragic consequences for both families.
Judge Turner ordered Edgerton to pay the victim's partner, Christine Pink $10,000 for emotional harm and the forfeit of his firearm.
