Manslaughter charge laid against father of child who allegedly shot hunter John Atkins

Marty Sharpe of

By Marty Sharpe of

A man whose young son allegedly shot and killed a hunter has been charged with manslaughter.

The 39-year-old man appeared in Gisborne District Court on Monday where the new charge of manslaughter was added to existing charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of cannabis.

He did not enter a plea and was remanded without plea to appear in the High Court at Gisborne later this month.

The man was with his son, aged under 13, inland of Tolaga Bay on 26 August, when the boy allegedly fired a shot that hit John Atkins, 44, who had been hunting with friends.

The incident occurred about 10.40pm on Tauwhareparae Road, where the man and his son had been spotlighting with a .22 calibre rifle.

Atkins was flown to hospital in a critical condition, but died several hours later.

Atkins, a father-of-three, was born and raised in Tolaga Bay where he was known as a passionate hunter.

- This story was first published by Stuff