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A Danish tourist has been cleared over the shooting of English agricultural exchange student Matthew Purchase on a rabbit hunting trip last year.
A jury at the High Court in Rotorua last night took only 30 minutes to find Bjarne Jensen, 48, not guilty of careless use of a firearm, after Mr Purchase was hit in the head while the pair were out rabbit shooting on a farm near the Waikato town of Putaruru last December.
Mr Purchase, who has since returned to England, suffered horrific injuries in the shooting, is permanently disabled and is living in a rehabilitation centre close to his family home.
On hearing the verdict, Jensen cried and embraced his weeping wife and daughter.
Matthew's father, Ian Purchase, said he could not understand why the jury returned a not guilty verdict.
"This was a very avoidable accident and it seems quite extraordinary that when a person discharges a firearm that he is not always accountable for where the bullet goes."
He said his family's life was in ruins.
"There will now be little chance of securing any compensation that could have made the rest of Matthew's life a little more comfortable."
Tokoroa Detective Sergeant Kevan Verry, who was in charge of the case, said he was disappointed with the verdict but respected the jury's findings.
- NZPA
