R v Jefferson - [2025] NZHC 3462

Sentencing of Mark Jefferson for the manslaughter of his close friend and long-time mentor Stuart Stobie. Mr Jefferson had misidentified Mr Stobie as a deer through a thermal scope on a rifle while hunting in the Kaiangaroa Forest at 1 am and had shot and killed him. Mr Jefferson and Mr Stobie were hunting illegally in the forest at the time. Furthermore, Mr Jefferson did not have a firearms license and by venturing into the bush and firing the gun unsupervised he was unlawfully in possession of a firearm. The additional aggravating features were failure to identify his target or check the firing zone; use of cannabis beforehand; initially lying to the police that Mr Stobie had accidentally shot himself and the extensive wider victim impact. 

A starting point of five years' imprisonment was adopted. Three months was added on for Mr Jefferson's eight previous firearms licensing convictions. Reductions totally 27 months' for guilty plea (25%), clear and genuine remorse and participation in restorative justice (15%) and, to a very limited extent previous good character, as demonstrated in the small Minginui community, (3%) were allowed bringing the final sentence to three years' imprisonment.