A hunter was sentenced on Friday in Annecy to six months in prison, a sentence fitted with the wearing of an electronic bracelet, for having seriously injured a walker in October.
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This decision of the criminal court comes as a fatal hunting accident, last Saturday in Cantal, relaunched the debate on this practice, in the middle of the presidential campaign.
Aged 56, this experienced hunter had tried to kill a wild boar during a beat, in a field in the town of Vallières-sur-Fier (Haute-Savoie), on October 28, 2021. The victim, a man from 29 years old, was walking with his mother and his dog on a path, about 200 meters away.
He had been hit in the chest and helicoptered in absolute emergency to Annecy hospital, from where he had emerged with 45 days of total incapacity for work.
"
I don't know by what miracle I'm still here
“, he testified during the hearing on Friday, still traumatized.
For the president of the court, Valentine de Montgolfier, the defendant "
violated essential rules
" supposed to regulate hunting by opening fire in the direction of dwellings and a busy road.
"
I fired and I did not see the person in front
," said the hunter at the bar, acknowledging his "
mistake
" and asking the victim's forgiveness.
Farmer by profession, denying himself of being "
a rabid hunter
", he nevertheless admitted to having been taken by
the "adrenaline
" of tracking down the injured boar.
"
Hunting is knowing not to shoot
," replied Marie Kerbart, deputy prosecutor, pointing out in this case "
the behavior of a man
", without making the trial of hunting.
"
This beat gave rise to actions (...) not entirely orthodox
“, declared for his part the lawyer of the Federation of hunters of Haute-Savoie, civil party, Charles Lagier.
And to regret that this accident "
discredits hunting
".
Unanimously, for the lawyers for the defense as for the victim, Me Emeline Dubois-Croset and Me Frédéric Fauvergue, the mandatory safety training provided today to hunters has shown its limits in this case.
Read alsoHunting in the sights after accidents
Sentenced to one year in prison, including six months, the defendant will serve his sentence while wearing an electronic bracelet.
For five years, he will be prohibited from possessing a weapon and will be deprived of a hunting license.
On Tuesday, a 17-year-old girl, alleged perpetrator of a shooting that killed a hiker in Cantal, was indicted for manslaughter.
The funeral of the victim, who was 25, will take place on Saturday in Flagnac (Aveyron).
