Shepherd guilty on lesser count

Press, 15 February 1986, Page 4

Shepherd guilty on lesser count

A shepherd who shot his friend through a hole in a wall after some goodnatured banter about getting a woman out of bed was found guilty by a jury in the High Court yesterday on the lesser of two alternative charges. Kevin Gerard Keehan, aged 28, a shepherd, was remanded on bail to February 28 for sentence by Mr Justice Hardie Boys on a charge of causing bodily injury to Geoffrey William Inkersell by careless use of a firearm. The jury found him not guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Inkersell with reckless disregard for his safety. His Honour said that he agreed with the jury’s verdict, which he said brought to an end a sad case. It was not the sort of case which required a custodial sentence and it appeared that a monetary penalty would be appropriate. Mr G. K. Panckhurst, who appeared for the Crown, said that Keehan has no previous convictions. Messrs Brian McClelland, Q.C., and H. D. P. van Schreven appeared for Keehan. The trial began on Thursday. Evidence was given that Keehan and Mr Inkersell were friends who worked on adjoihinng stations some 30 miles inland from Kaikoura. On Friday, August 16, they went into Kaikoura to get

supplies and have a few beers aftqr finishing work for the week.

After the hotels closed they returned to the shearers’ quarters on Cloudy Range station where Keehan worked. It was agreed; that Mr Inkersell wouldstay the night. There was some ongoing good-natured banter about getting up the housekeeper at the homestead.

Mr Inkersell went into the next room where he was to sleep and the banter about the woman continued. Keehan picked up a .22 rifle, poked it through a small hole in the wall, and the rifle went off when it was bumped. Mr Inkersell suffered serious head injuries.

In his address to the jury, Mr McClelland that it was impossible for Keehan to have aimed the rifle at his companion. Keehan had believed that the rifle would not fire if the trigger was pulled when the safety catch was on but that was not so. Keehan had said that he thought he bumped the rifle as he poked it through the small hole. He has no reason to fire the rifle. The last thing he had wanted was for the rifle to discharge. He was not the sort of man who would fire the rifle into the room for no reason. The rifle had gone off accidentally, Mr McClelland said.