Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 7, 1995 TAG: 9503070101
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BREEA WILLINGHAM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BEDFORD LENGTH: Medium
His statement was read Monday in Bedford County General District Court during a preliminary hearing on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Thomas William Puckett. After the hearing, the charge was certified to the county grand jury.
Game Warden Steve Pike read from Wright's statement, which gave this account of what happened:
Wright, of Roanoke, was hunting in Bedford County on Nov. 19 with a friend, Charles Witt, who had lent Wright a 12-gauge shotgun.
At 5 p.m., Wright, who has 17 years of hunting experience, said he saw what appeared to be a deer across a creek. He tracked the deer and fired one round. He then said he heard a groan and saw the creature fall.
After firing the shot, Wright said he climbed over a fence, crossed the creek and looked for the deer for about three minutes but couldn't find anything.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Randy Krantz questioned Wright's eyesight, and Pike said, reading from the statement, that sometimes Wright's vision is foggy and he needs eyedrops. Wright said he had used eyedrops that day and he was 85 percent sure he had shot a deer.
Defense attorney Al Wilson asked the court not to certify the charge, because the shooting was an accident and Wright had expressed sympathy for the family.
``I'm sorry it's happened, and I send my regrets to the family,'' Wright said in his statement.
Wright will remain free on bond while the grand jury meets to determine whether to return an indictment. The charge carries a punishment of one to 10 years in prison.
``This case is a tragedy for everyone involved,'' Wilson said. ``Wright hasn't been the same since the accident and is upset just as much as the victim's family.''
Keywords:
FATALITY
by CNB