SOUTH PARIS – A Livermore Falls man has been indicted on a manslaughter charge in the shooting death of his hunting companion 13 months ago.

No arraignment date was set for James R. Newcomb, 36, in Oxford County Superior Court.

Newcomb was accused of killing David L. Noyes, 42, of Canton on Dec. 6, 2001, during the muzzleloading season for deer.

Assistant Attorney General William Baghdoyan said a person can be charged with manslaughter if he or she caused the death of another human being and if his or her actions were reckless or criminally negligent.

“Maine has a fairly strict target identification law. It requires that before you pull the trigger you must identify the head and torso of whatever animal you are shooting at,” the prosecutor added.

Defense lawyer Neal Pratt said Newcomb, who was Noyes’ cousin, maintains he was shooting at a deer.

“He takes the position that this was a horrible accident and exactly that – an unfortunate accident,” Pratt said. “He believed that he was shooting at a deer. Of that, he was absolutely certain.”

The shooting took place shortly before 9 a.m. in woods off the Jewett Hill Road in Canton.