Tragedy: Policeman shoots a minor during hunting

He is under prosecution after, back in 2018, on the course of a hunting event, he shot an underaged propellant – reported the head of the Central Department of Investigation and Prosecution to the MTI.

Imre Keresztes, attorney general, wrote in his statement that the Regional Department of Investigation and Prosecution of Debrecen, the policeman is charged with reckless endangerment resulting from professional misconduct.

According to the indictment, the defendant took part in a joint hunt organised by a hunting organisation back in 2018 with 13 of his fellow hunters and two propellants in a ridge in Borsod.

Before the hunt started, the guide told the safety rules. On the course of the hunt hunters and propellants were moving in the same line and when they arrived on a colin covered with bushes, they were not able to maintain the line and one of the propellants – 14 years old person — on the right of the defendant fell behind. The defendant tried to shoot a rabbit running towards the propellant.

The 33-year-old policeman took a shot with his shotgun towards the direction of the steep colin covered in bushes and tall grass and ultimately shot the minor standing at a 39 metre-distance from him, dressed in a colourful hat and a visibility vest.

The buckshot hit the victim with its six pieces on his right forearm, right and left thighs and left leg, causing him to suffer an injury with a healing time beyond eight days.

According to the indictment the hunter had violated several points of the hunting rules, among others one that states that the hunter can only shoot his weapon if he can recognise the animal without a doubt; and if with the shot he does not endanger the safety or the life of others. It is forbidden to aim at an animal that crosses the line of the hunters or jumps out among the propellants, it is forbidden to shoot from the edge of a colin downwards the valley and before the shot hunters have to measure the expected route and the place of impact after shooting.

The penalty expected to be imposed on the defendant is one year of imprisonment – stated the attorney general. He also added that the indictment written by the Department of Prosecution contains the imposition of a fine.