KEY POINTS:
Murder suspect Murray Foreman admitted having rifles of the calibre used to kill farmer Jack Nicholas only after being shown a photo of .308 ammunition taken at his home, his trial was told yesterday.
In the High Court at Napier, Detective Sergeant Gary Milligan said the admission came in an interview with Foreman at the Napier police station on November 24, 2004, while police were searching his home in Grove Rd, Haumoana.
Mr Milligan said police investigating the dawn shooting of 71-year-old Mr Nicholas, more than 80km away on Makahu Farm in the foothills of the Kaweka Ranges on August 27 that year, went to Foreman's home to execute a search warrant, looking for a .308 rifle and .308 150-grain ammunition.
Foreman, 51, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Nicholas.
Police arrived at the property just after 10am and Foreman, who was cautioned about his rights, agreed to go with Mr Milligan and another officer to the Napier station to be interviewed.
When told by Mr Milligan during the trip that police believed Foreman had had the weapon that was used in the killing or had knowledge of its whereabouts, the suspect said that was "heavy shit" and he wouldn't be talking without a lawyer.
On the way to the station, the officer driving the car stopped at a petrol station to get Foreman a pie, and there were more discussions with the suspect, which continued in an interview room at the station, where Foreman finally said he had nothing to hide and agreed to make a statement, Mr Milligan said.
He reiterated that he didn't know anything about the shooting. Asked if there was anything police might find of interest during the search that was continuing at his home in his absence, he said there were two 7.8mm bullets.
He conceded he had access to a 7.8mm Remmington rifle, but would not disclose its whereabouts, saying it was "tucked away in a safe place", but that he was prepared to release it to police.
Foreman said he didn't have any other firearms. Told that police believed he had had a .308, Foreman replied he did not, and that he did not know where they were getting their information from.
After a break, Mr Milligan returned with a photograph, which he said was of .308 ammunition found at the Grove Rd address in the search. Foreman said: "OK, I've got a .308 ... We'd better go for a drive."
Foreman took police to the locker room at the Ravensdown fertiliser plant at Awatoto, and showed them two .308 rifles - a Brno and a Spanish Carbine. He then directed the officers to the home of friend Deon Betty in Clifton Rd, Te Awanga, and revealed the 7.8mm weapon.
When the interview resumed at the police station, Foreman said he did not have a firearms licence because he had not renewed it since he got on the "wrong side of the law", so he got a workmate to buy the Brno on his behalf from a shop where it was being sold near-new at half-price.
He said he'd bought the second .308 from a friend for "50c or something like that".
Foreman said he had almost never fired the guns, which police have since ruled out as being involved in the shooting, although they say they have also never found the .308 calibre murder weapon, thought to be a Ruger M77 Mk 2.
Questioned by defence counsel Bruce Squire, QC, Mr Milligan said he believed the search warrant had been obtained based on an anonymous letter claiming Foreman had had the gun involved in the shooting.
- NZPA
