Hunter's life sentence of guilt

Father shot daughter's boyfriend on hunting trip

A hunter who shot and killed his daughter's boyfriend has avoided a prison term but will live with guilt, sadness and remorse for the rest of his life, his wife says.

Garth Porter, 54, of Napier, was sentenced to five months' home detention and 250 hours' community work yesterday, after pleading guilty in June to careless use of a firearm causing death.

Porter shot Aron Timms, his daughter's boyfriend of three years, on March 15, the day before his 19th birthday.

The hunting party had split and Porter, believing he had seen a deer, took aim and fired.

The round hit a cabbage tree and split into two pieces, both of which hit Mr Timms in the chest. He died instantly.

When spoken to by police, Porter accepted he had failed to identify his target.

Porter's wife, Lyn, said the family was pleased he had not been sent to prison.

"This has affected so many people. The Timms have lost their son and we have lost someone who was like a family member to us too.

"We are all devastated by the loss of Aron through this hunting tragedy and continue to struggle daily with our grief.

"Garth is overwhelmed by guilt, sadness and remorse for the Timms family as he is for his daughter Nicole. He will be living with this for the rest of his life."

A tearful Mrs Porter and Nicole were at Napier District Court for the sentencing, as were Mr Timms' parents, Brian and Lorraine, and sister Michelle.

Mrs Timms said the family was too emotional to speak yesterday.

Judge Bridget Mackintosh acknowledged Porter's remorse but said she had to impose a sentence that would deter others from carelessness when hunting.

However, firearms expert Trevor Dyke, former president of the Deerstalkers Association, said the sentence would not be seen as a deterrent.

"The sentence won't make any difference," he said. "It's more an educational thing that's needed. If you're unsure of a target you're better to let it walk away than have your mate shot."

Porter's lawyer, Tony Snell, said Porter had handed in his firearms licence and would never shoot again.

A psychiatric report showed he still had significant unresolved problems relating to the incident and was probably severely depressed.

Porter's family had set up the Aron Timms Memorial Trust to help young people attend outdoor courses.

The family had offered to make emotional harm payments, but the judge made no order for payment.

Porter's sentence will begin on August 19 to give time for a landline for electronic monitoring to be installed.

Porter was also ordered to undergo any counselling deemed appropriate by the Probation Service for six months after his sentence was completed.