A Waitoa man, who shot and killed another hunter in the Kaimai Mamaku range on Easter Monday, has been described as a decent man who did a tragic and stupid thing.

Quentin McCreedy at sentencing in Hamilton District Court. Photo: RNZ/Andrew McRae

Quentin McCreedy, 37, has been convicted in the Hamilton District Court of careless use of a firearm causing the death of 57-year-old Gordon Leech of Hamilton.

McCreedy has been sentenced to six months’ community detention with a night time curfew, one year’s supervision, 200-hours of community work and ordered to pay $10,000 in reparations to Mr Leech’s widow.

McCreedy was out hunting stags when he heard a crashing sound ahead of him.

His lawyer Roger Laybourn told the court that McCreedy was unaware Mr Leech was in the area.

“They used their (electronic) caller to call a stag or a hind and the…