Posted on 06/20/2009 3:37:33 PM PDT by JoeProBono
MONTICELLO – A Howard Beach man who was hunting in Swan Lake last November when he fired his high powered rifle and killed a baby inside a home, Friday pled guilty to second-degree manslaughter.
Edward Taibi, 45, had been hunting on property off Horseshoe Lake Road when he fired two shots from his rifle within 400 feet of a mobile home where 16-month-old Charley Skala of Woodbourne, and her grandmother were located.
When sentenced in October, he will receive two to eight years in state prison.
The guilty plea came in Sullivan County Court as District Attorney Stephen Lungen was preparing for a trial.
“This was not an accident; this was a recklessly caused death because in the location and manner in which Mr. Taibi fired his high-powered 300 magnum Winchester rifle, he was in such close proximity to the residence, which was in his view at the time of his shooting that he should have never fired any of the shots, let alone the first shot, especially the second shot, which was even closer.”
Lungen termed the resolution “fair.” But said nothing could make the family pleased.
It is the hunter’s responsibility to know about every building and road in the area he is hunting within the range of the arm he is shooting. As well as what the backstop is for every shot he takes.
I believe it. But that's no excuse for that dope in La La land, California, to have made those bigoted remarks about his "obligatory unpronouncable last name". That was clearly a cheap swipe at Italians (gold chain, Howard Beach, "overaged disco king").
there will always be idiots.....
but its still an accident.....
prayers and some sense of peace for the families involved...
Know your backdrop. Guilty.
“A 300 win has a maximum effective range of 1000 yards.”
And it is also too much gun for a deer. A .270 or a .308 would be more in line.
for tree stand hunting in the heavily wooded northeast a 30-30 is fine and not rookie looking overkill with a 300wm
The whole thing is a great tragedy. The part that frustrates me is there is a law in NY State that requires you to pass a hunter safety course before you can get a hunting license or deer permit. The class is actually pretty good, at least as it is taught in my neck of the woods (Schenectady County). They go over all the rules such as distance from dwellings (500 feet) and of course always knowing what is in front of and behind of your target before you even point the rifle or take aim. I don't know how this guy passed the course.
At least he had the decency to man-up an plead guilty.
Maybe that's the reason he got a lighter sentence.
“for tree stand hunting in the heavily wooded northeast a 30-30 is fine and not rookie looking overkill with a 300wm”
A .30-30 has taken more deer in North America than any other cartridge.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.