Hunter killed in hunting accident
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Ex-NHL player’s charges dropped in ‘tragic’ hunting death
Mike Peeling
Hamilton Spectator | Apr 03, 2015
FORMER NHL PLAYER
Jonathan: Said a prayer.
PETER KOSID
Kosid: Shot while bow hunting.
BRANTFORD — The criminal charges against former NHL player Stan Jonathan in the hunting death of Peter Kosid of Hamilton have been withdrawn.
Crown attorney George Orsini told the Superior Court of Justice in Brantford on Thursday his office was withdrawing the charges of criminal negligence causing death and careless use of a firearm against the retired Boston Bruin and Six Nations hockey star.
Jonathan, 59, was not present for the announcement.
Orsini said that on Nov. 11, 2012, Jonathan was hunting with his brother on Six Nations land near Third Line Road where he spotted what he believed to be a deer from 275 metres away.
Using a .270 Weatherby Mark V, a high-powered rifle, Jonathan took a single shot.
The brothers sought Jonathan's target and realized it was actually a man wearing camouflage.
Orsini said the brothers called 911 and said a prayer for the deceased man, who was later identified as Kosid, a Hamilton resident who was bow hunting on a friend's land.
Kosid was shot in the back about 8 a.m. Kosid, 28, was engaged to be married at the time of his death. His son was eight months old at the time.
Fiancée Sabina Marrone, of Hamilton, declined to comment to The Spectator on the withdrawal of charges at this time.
Six Nations Police arrested and charged Jonathan on Nov. 14, 2012.
"There is no question Mr. Jonathan thought he was shooting at a deer," Orsini said.
Orsini said that after further case review, there isn't sufficient evidence to prove the criminal charges.
Justice Alan Whitten said the circumstances of the shooting are "very tragic," but he can understand the Crown attorney's decision to withdraw the charges.
Brant News
Mike Peeling
Hamilton Spectator | Apr 03, 2015
FORMER NHL PLAYER
Jonathan: Said a prayer.
PETER KOSID
Kosid: Shot while bow hunting.
BRANTFORD — The criminal charges against former NHL player Stan Jonathan in the hunting death of Peter Kosid of Hamilton have been withdrawn.
Crown attorney George Orsini told the Superior Court of Justice in Brantford on Thursday his office was withdrawing the charges of criminal negligence causing death and careless use of a firearm against the retired Boston Bruin and Six Nations hockey star.
Jonathan, 59, was not present for the announcement.
Orsini said that on Nov. 11, 2012, Jonathan was hunting with his brother on Six Nations land near Third Line Road where he spotted what he believed to be a deer from 275 metres away.
Using a .270 Weatherby Mark V, a high-powered rifle, Jonathan took a single shot.
The brothers sought Jonathan's target and realized it was actually a man wearing camouflage.
Orsini said the brothers called 911 and said a prayer for the deceased man, who was later identified as Kosid, a Hamilton resident who was bow hunting on a friend's land.
Kosid was shot in the back about 8 a.m. Kosid, 28, was engaged to be married at the time of his death. His son was eight months old at the time.
Fiancée Sabina Marrone, of Hamilton, declined to comment to The Spectator on the withdrawal of charges at this time.
Six Nations Police arrested and charged Jonathan on Nov. 14, 2012.
"There is no question Mr. Jonathan thought he was shooting at a deer," Orsini said.
Orsini said that after further case review, there isn't sufficient evidence to prove the criminal charges.
Justice Alan Whitten said the circumstances of the shooting are "very tragic," but he can understand the Crown attorney's decision to withdraw the charges.
Brant News
Fatal bullet hit deer before killing man, lawyer says
Daniel Nolan
Hamilton Spectator | Apr 06, 2015
STAN JONATHAN
Stan Jonathan's lawyer says his client is devastated that the bullet he fired at a deer killed a fellow hunter.
Former NHL player Stan Jonathan will write a letter of condolence to the family of a Hamilton man he shot and killed in what his lawyer describes as a "sad" and "unfortunate" hunting accident.
Jonathan, 59, faced a charge of criminal negligence causing death and one of careless use of a firearm in connection with the Nov. 11, 2012 shooting on Six Nations that took the life of Peter Kosid, a 28-year-old father who was engaged to be married.
Jonathan, who played for the Boston Bruins in the 1970s, told police he believed he had shot a deer when he fired a single shot from his high-powered rifle toward Kosid, who was an estimated 275 metres away in an area near Third Line Road. Crown attorney George Orsini accepted that argument and formally withdrew charges against Jonathan Thursday in Brantford court.
Jonathan was hunting with his brother early in the morning that day. Kosid was by himself bow hunting, but was staying nearby at a friend's house.
Hamilton lawyer Dean Paquette, who represented Jonathan, said Sunday that the case they presented during the preliminary hearing was that his client had sighted the same deer three times before he fired his rifle. He said Jonathan "shot a deer … and that the bullet that ended up killing Mr. Kosid had actually gone through a deer.
"He saw it go down … the practice is you don't approach a recently shot deer. He approached about an hour later, believing the deer would be there where he shot it. He had no idea Mr. Kosid was beyond where the deer was."
The brothers arrived with a trailer, expecting to pick up the dead deer. They found the camouflage-clad Kosid, called 911 and said a prayer.
Paquette said a deer carcass was never found, but a neighbour testified seeing a deer about 90 minutes later that "was not acting normally. It matched the deer that Stan had shot … It was acting as if something was wrong with it and we believe it was wounded."
Paquette said Jonathan is relieved the ordeal is over, but remains distraught.
"He spoke to the police and offered his regret through the police, but he is going to write a letter of condolences. His video statement to police was played and seen by the family and he is crying.
"He was obviously extremely upset and sad about what had happened … He had to wait until this was over (to write a letter), but now is the time."
On Friday, Kosid's fiancée, Sabina Marrone of Hamilton, declined to comment on the withdrawal of charges.
Paquette said, however, he believed through the Crown that Kosid's family "had a large say in whether or not the charges proceeded. I think in the beginning they did not understand and believed it was a different kind of event that was shown to them … Over time … they came to realize this was an unfortunate event that was largely unavoidable."
A spokesperson for the Ministry of the Attorney General could not be reached for comment Sunday.
dnolan@thespec.com
905-526-3351 | @dandundas
Daniel Nolan
Hamilton Spectator | Apr 06, 2015
STAN JONATHAN
Stan Jonathan's lawyer says his client is devastated that the bullet he fired at a deer killed a fellow hunter.
Former NHL player Stan Jonathan will write a letter of condolence to the family of a Hamilton man he shot and killed in what his lawyer describes as a "sad" and "unfortunate" hunting accident.
Jonathan, 59, faced a charge of criminal negligence causing death and one of careless use of a firearm in connection with the Nov. 11, 2012 shooting on Six Nations that took the life of Peter Kosid, a 28-year-old father who was engaged to be married.
Jonathan, who played for the Boston Bruins in the 1970s, told police he believed he had shot a deer when he fired a single shot from his high-powered rifle toward Kosid, who was an estimated 275 metres away in an area near Third Line Road. Crown attorney George Orsini accepted that argument and formally withdrew charges against Jonathan Thursday in Brantford court.
Jonathan was hunting with his brother early in the morning that day. Kosid was by himself bow hunting, but was staying nearby at a friend's house.
Hamilton lawyer Dean Paquette, who represented Jonathan, said Sunday that the case they presented during the preliminary hearing was that his client had sighted the same deer three times before he fired his rifle. He said Jonathan "shot a deer … and that the bullet that ended up killing Mr. Kosid had actually gone through a deer.
"He saw it go down … the practice is you don't approach a recently shot deer. He approached about an hour later, believing the deer would be there where he shot it. He had no idea Mr. Kosid was beyond where the deer was."
The brothers arrived with a trailer, expecting to pick up the dead deer. They found the camouflage-clad Kosid, called 911 and said a prayer.
Paquette said a deer carcass was never found, but a neighbour testified seeing a deer about 90 minutes later that "was not acting normally. It matched the deer that Stan had shot … It was acting as if something was wrong with it and we believe it was wounded."
Paquette said Jonathan is relieved the ordeal is over, but remains distraught.
"He spoke to the police and offered his regret through the police, but he is going to write a letter of condolences. His video statement to police was played and seen by the family and he is crying.
"He was obviously extremely upset and sad about what had happened … He had to wait until this was over (to write a letter), but now is the time."
On Friday, Kosid's fiancée, Sabina Marrone of Hamilton, declined to comment on the withdrawal of charges.
Paquette said, however, he believed through the Crown that Kosid's family "had a large say in whether or not the charges proceeded. I think in the beginning they did not understand and believed it was a different kind of event that was shown to them … Over time … they came to realize this was an unfortunate event that was largely unavoidable."
A spokesperson for the Ministry of the Attorney General could not be reached for comment Sunday.
dnolan@thespec.com
905-526-3351 | @dandundas
When's the last time someone's done time for carelessly killing a fellow hunter?
- Location
- sudbury, ontario
What a load of horse sh$t that guy pulled the trigger and now I bet he will use the excuse that he's Indian and rules don't apply to him.... What a load of #### so now I guess Indians can shoot people !!!! And get away with It excuses are like asshol$s everyone has one!!!!! What are these laws here for. Then ????? Bloody politics all bull #### .....hmmm he gets a slap on the wrist .... Just disgusting
Or at least some type of magazine size or barrel length regulations...
It's the same in most provinces. Unfortunately some people have no idea how to interpret the regulations.
