Hughes 500, while I can see both sides of this, I tend to agree with your view.
After all, as things turned out, the casualty was rescued and no-one got hurt. I hope, if this case doesn't get thrown out as "not in the public interest", that the "evil perpetrator of this heinous crime" gets nothing more than a conditional discharge.
I can only wonder how the "hang the guilty bastard regardless" brigade would react if they were in the same position as this pilot and if the casualty had been a close relative of theirs.....
"Sorry to hear about your busted leg, son; but I'm off down the pub"
