A COURT has heard how a teenager accidentally shot a 13-year-old boy dead during a hunting trip for rabbits.

Thirteen-year-old William Buffey was killed by a single round to the back of the head from a .22 rifle on February 22 last year.

Two people appeared at Leeds Crown Court yesterday on charges connected with the death.

The court was told William had gone to shoot rabbits in a disused quarry near his home at Angram Hall, Carlton Husthwaite, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, with another youth now aged 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Andrew Dallas, prosecuting, said the gun fired when the youth tripped over.

Mr Dallas said: "He caught his foot on some wire or ivy, then stumbled.

"The gun hit the side of a tree and went off. He was pretty sure his hand was not on the trigger, but William fell forward, having clearly been shot.

"He saw there was blood on the back of William's head. He could get no response and went to get help."

The court heard how the 16-year-old lied to police when first questioned.

After yesterday's hearing, Detective Inspector Dai Malyn, who was involved in the case, said the lies meant William's parents were unclear about the exact circumstances of the death. He said: "The family want to know what happened to William, and we cannot answer their questions."

Judge David Bryant sentenced the youth to a six-month supervision order after he admitted possessing a firearm and ammunition without a certificate and trying to pervert the course of justice by providing false information.

The second defendant, Anthony Knowles, 67, from Barugh Farm, Carlton Husthwaite, was fined £600 after he admitted not complying with a certificate for keeping a firearm and two counts of aiding and abetting the other defendant on the firearms and ammunition charges.

Knowles was found not guilty of a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Judge Bryant said was no reason to think the boy's death was anything other than an accident.

Speaking to the younger defendant, he said: "I have no doubt the events of February 22 will live with you forever.

"Your behaviour after the event was unworthy and must have increased the distress of the Buffey family unnecessarily."