KEY POINTS:
A man who fatally shot a hunting companion after mistaking him for a deer has been charged with causing his death, police said today.
William (Bill) Douglas Prentice White, 40, of Stoke, Nelson, died on May 1 after being shot in the chest in the Rough River area west of Reefton by one of two hunting companions.
Mr White and his companions went into the area intending to stay for a week-long hunting trip.
They had hunted together for about 20 years and knew the area well.
Police said Mr White was shot from a distance of between 70m and 80m in a flat area near a river in dull, showery weather.
He was wearing khaki clothing and had a high-visibility cap, although it was unclear if he had been wearing it.
Police said the man who shot Mr White had mistaken him for a deer.
Detective Constable Tania Jellyman, of Greymouth police, said a 39-year-old Nelson man would appear in Nelson District Court on June 5, facing a charge of careless use of a firearm causing death.
- NZPA
