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A man awaiting sentence for firing a shotgun at fleeing burglars still believes he did the right thing.
Garth Gadsby, 60, of Wairarapa coastal community Ngawi, was found guilty on Saturday of recklessly discharging a firearm.
He had fired at a stolen car driven by burglars fleeing the village in September 2006.
In his Wellington District Court trial he said he was trying to protect his community and never put the thieves in danger, having fired at the tyres of the car.
He was stunned by guilty verdict.
"When (the judge) gave me the option of being sentenced then and there, I was shell-shocked," he told the Wairarapa Times-Age newspaper.
"It was too much to take in after getting the guilty verdict."
He said he felt 'a bit depressed" but did not regret his actions.
"I still believe that I did the right thing," he said.
Two teens in the vehicle, Brendon Taylor and Joshua Diamond, and friend Owen Guthrie , admitted breaking into Ngawi holiday homes after a string of burglaries and car thefts starting in Wellington.
As he awaited sentence on May 9, Mr Gadsby just wanted the 17-month ordeal to be over.
"We don't know how hard they're going to come down on me, or not. It will just be a waiting game.
"We're hoping the outcome will be reasonable but if it's not, we'll consider our options."
- NZPA
