A senior surgeon in New Caledonia has been jailed for 20 years for the homicide of his neighbour.
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Olivier Peres, who oversaw the orthopaedic department at Noumea's public hospital, gunned down Eric Martinez on a golf course with three shots four years ago.
He was convicted in a week-long jury trial in the criminal court attended by more than two dozen witnesses and experts.
The prosecution sought an 18-year sentence, but the verdict was for 20 years imprisonment for the premeditated killing of Martinez.
Peres had denied any intention to kill him, saying he acted in self-defence.
Peres fired a third shot from close range, claiming he did so as not be killed by Martinez, who was later found to have a knife in his pocket.
Days before the killing, Peres and his wife had contacted the police, expressing fear after undue pressure from Martinez, whom Peres described in court as a narcissistic pervert.
Peres said Martinez, who had been the lover of his wife, had threatened his family and boasted that as a member of French military commando, he had killed people, including children.
The court heard however that Martinez didn't belong to any such unit.
After the killing, police searches found four firearms at Peres' home and more than a dozen at the victim's house.
While on remand, Peres likened the conditions in prison to those of a death camp or concentration camp, and he secured home detention while awaiting his trial.
Last month, he published a book about the incident, called 'The Devil Exists'.
It is possible that Peres will lodge an appeal.
