Yaldhurst shooter claims self defence
A man who shot his victim in the thigh told the probation report writer that he was acting in self defence, the Christchurch District Court heard today.
David John Hunter, a 33-year-old Oxford contractor, was sentenced on a charge of wounding with reckless disregard for the safety of others.
His defence counsel, Chris Shannon, said Hunter had responded in the wrong way, and let down himself and his family.
Judge Paul Kellar said in the evening of July 13, Hunter’s victim, Dean Walter Louis, was repairing a vehicle outside one of his workshops in Yaldhurst Road.
Hunter arrived with another man and parked in front of the workshop. He walked towards the victim with a .22 calibre firearm, and fired twice. One bullet lodged in his victim’s right thigh.
Louis ran into his workshop and locked the door, and Hunter left.
Louis was taken to hospital and was told it was safer if the bullet was left in his thigh.
The probation report said the men had once been close friends but the relationship had deteriorated.
Hunter claimed Louis had shot him a few times in 2014, but denied he had planned to shoot Louis, but had gone to his house to sort things out.
He told the report writer that Louis pulled out a pistol, and he acted in self defence.
Judge Kellar said there was an element of premeditation in the visit, and Hunter had obtained a loaded firearm and confronted Louis with it.
He sentenced Hunter to one year seven months’ in prison, and refused leave to substitute the sentence if a home detention address was found.
Category: Focus
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