A man who allegedly mistook a woman for a deer before shooting her dead at a campsite is to reappear in court today, this time charged with manslaughter.
Andrew Mears, a 25-year-old motor trimmer from Hamilton, originally pleaded guilty to a charge of carelessly using a firearm causing death when he appeared in the Taupo District Court on November 3.
But police sought a remand without plea on the charge pending the recommendations of the Crown Solicitor at Rotorua. Yesterday the officer leading the investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Todd Pearce, said Mears would now also face a charge of manslaughter.
Mr Pearce said it was appropriate for police to seek further advice about the charge, given the incident's wider circumstances.
"The circumstances of Ms Ives' death were different from what police deal with in most hunting-related incidents and deaths, so it was important that additional advice and review was sought."