More charges possible in teacher shooting

Andrew Mears was contravening the terms of his Department of Conservation shooting permit when he shot Rosemary Ives while hunting in the dark. Photo / Christine Cornege

Three members of a hunting party involved in a fatal shooting near Turangi last year could yet be charged by the Department of Conservation, a detective says.

Rosemary Ives, 25, was shot and killed at a campground near Turangi at Labour Weekend last year by a hunter. The hunting group of four were illegally hunting deer at night in the Kaimanawa Forest Park.

Andrew Mears pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter and on Wednesday was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment when he appeared in the Rotorua High Court.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Todd Pearce, said while a key focus for the investigation was the arrest and conviction of Mears for manslaughter, police have also investigated whether the other three members of the hunting party could also be prosecuted.

"This has been an extremely difficult and distressing case for everyone involved - police, other emergency services and campers in the area at the time - and not least of which for the family and partner of Ms Ives," Mr Pearce said.

"Obviously a key focus for us was achieving the successful conviction of Andrew Mears for manslaughter, but of equal focus has been trying to ensure that all of those who were involved are also held accountable for their actions.

"Unfortunately, even after a considerable amount of work, police are not able to charge the other three members of the group with any offence related to her death. This has been supported by a legal opinion from the Crown.

"However, an illegal hunting-related charge has been identified and could be laid under the Conservation Act, given the group were on Department of Conservation land at the time of the incident.

Mr Pearce said DOC is considering taking action against the group.
Police are also going to revoke the firearms licences held by two of the three hunters, he said.