Published in The Press on 15/10/2024
A group of friends travelled in convoy, cameras at the ready, on a “hunting” trip that involved hitting deer with their vehicles.
Quinn Woodman, 20, appeared in Nelson District Court on Tuesday afternoon, where he were sentenced for unlawful hunting, ill-treating an animal, careless driving and obstruction.
His co-offender, MacKenzie Brewerton, was scheduled to be sentenced in February.
Woodman, Brewerton and “two or three others” were part of a Snapchat group called New Zealand Poachers.
At about 3am on March 30, Woodman drove his ute to Marsden Valley. His passengers included Brewerton and two 16-year-olds. Another vehicle followed in convoy.
“Your group agreed you would… hunt deer by hitting them with [your vehicle],” the judge said.
When the group came across eight deer on the road, Woodman accelerated towards them as two others filmed, and someone shouted “go, go, go”.
Woodman swerved towards a stag. He hit the animal as it turned to try and avoid his truck. The animal was propelled forward, spinning three times before coming to rest on its side, thrashing on the ground.
As the party got out of their vehicles, the deer tried to run away. However, its injuries meant it was unable to move, and its antlers became tangled in a wire fence.
The camera filmed Brewerton grabbing the deer by the antlers. While Woodman restrained the animal, Brewerton cut its throat.
The deer suffered blunt force trauma and broken bones, and would have experienced significant pain and distress, the judge said.
The video was uploaded to social media, receiving “negative attention”, and catching the police’s eye.
When police searched his home, Woodman sent a voice note to his friends, telling them to change the name of the Snapchat group. It was changed, and unable to be located by police. While the videos were deleted, police later recovered them.
Crown and defence lawyers disagreed on whether the offending was planned.
Woodman’s lawyer Tony Bamford said hitting the deer was impulsive, and the group had travelled up the valley to check on some pig traps when they encountered the deer.
“It was a spur of the moment decision to do this abominable but fast manoeuvre with his car and run one over.”
However, Crown prosecutor Daniel Baxter said the group had travelled in convoy, with knives and cameras at the ready, with the clear intention to unlawfully hunt.
The filming added another layer to the offending, Baxter said.
“It was carried out for the enjoyment and glorification of [the] defendant,” he said.
Bamford said Woodman had not posted any videos to social media, and had been upset that some of the “younger people” had done so.
Judge Rielly said there were few cases with which to compare the offending.
“That is a relief… given the way you targeted this animal.
“[It was] a gratuitous, violent act, carried out on this animal for your enjoyment and that of your associates.”
She noted that despite Woodman’s “impulsive and immature” behaviour, he had a good background, with support from those around him, and she believed he was remorseful.
The judge sentenced him to six months’ community detention, the maximum that could be imposed under sentencing guidelines, due to the serious nature of the offending.
Woodman was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of community work, and encouraged to make a donation to the SPCA or other animal welfare organisation.
Bully. Torturer. Immature. Brainless. Sick.