After sentencing, family hopes it can move on from shooting

Justice Trina Sims sentenced Harold Hines to seven years in prison after he shot Chad Hickey in the head while he was traveling by snowmobile across his property. Now, Hines has admitted to doing this by changing his plea and even apologized to Chad and his family, an apology that Hickey's wife will never accept. He knows what he did when he pulled the trigger and and there's no words that can take that back, unfortunately. Justice Sims, Hines, Crown, and Defense all appeared by Zoom today. Sims handed down seven years to Hines for shooting Hickey. It happened here on Gravel's Pond in Port-a-Port West in February 2025. Hickey and his friend were crossing the frozen saltwater pond on snowmobiles near Hines' property. He shot Hickey from his window. I mean, obviously no sentence is going to be justice enough for what Chad and our family has gone through in the last 20 months. But I am very thankful that Justice Sims chose the maximum amount, the maximum sentence that the Crown presented. Hickey spent 33 days in hospital and six weeks at the Miller Center, recovering from permanent brain injuries. During that time, Alex had their first child, and his injuries robbed him of those first-time parenting experiences. It was really, really hard at first because he wasn't even able to pick up his own child or buckle him into the car seat or feed him a bottle. He wasn't able to do anything like that. But thank God, he is doing much, much better, and we're able to live our new normal, I guess. Hickey wasn't in court today because he's back to work. captaining a fishing boat, with some accommodations given issues with his left hand. Hines pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, careless use of a firearm, and aggravated assault. He was set for trial but changed his pleas in July, and the attempted murder charge was dropped. Today, Justice Sims noted how dangerous and careless the nature of the act was, not just nearly killing Hickey but the risk to anyone in the area at that time. Hines faces a lifetime firearm ban, and he can't contact Hickey or his family. Now that Hines has been sentenced, this young couple just want to move forward with their life and start celebrating. They got married a month ago today. Colleen Connors, CBC News, Corner Brook.