Farmer's death upgraded to homicide

Police are treating the death of Scott Guy as suspicious. Photo / Supplied

A young Manawatu dairy farmer shot dead in his driveway is now being treated as a homicide, police say.

The body of Scott Guy, 31, was found by a member of the public on Aorangi Road, south of the rural town of Feilding town around 7am on Thursday.

Police said this afternoon a post mortem had confirmed Mr Guy suffered gunshot wounds and a homicide investigation launched although the official cause of death would the a matter for the coroner.

A team of 20 police staff had now been joined by forensic scientists to try and establish what happened.

It is believed Mr Guy, who leaves behind his wife Kylie - pregnant with their second child due in September - and two year-old son Hunter was shot after he got up early on Thursday to go to work on the family farm.

Detective Inspector Sue Schwalger said this afternoon: "Scott's death has devastated his family and rocked a close-knit community.

"We know the family and community have a lot of questions that police are not in a position to answer at this stage.

"However, I want to give reassurance that police are doing everything possible to find out how and why Scott was killed.

Ms Schwalger said that the investigation was still in its early stages and police believed that the community could play a significant role.

"Police would like to hear about any suspicious behaviour in the area in the days leading up to Scott's death and any information that might be relevant to the investigation."

She urged anyone with information to contact a member of the investigation team, on 0800 808585 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

In a statement issued yesterday a devastated Mrs Guy described her husband as her "soulmate".

"He was a wonderful husband and the best father you could ever have; he was so hands on with Hunter. He was just so perfect; we were just soulmates and he is my best friend," she said.

"It's so unfair; you couldn't say a bad thing about him. Scott touched so many hearts; he had such a warm, kind nature."

Mr Guy's parents, Jo and Bryan Guy, described their son as a happy, much-loved, and talented man.

"When he met Kylee she changed his whole life and becoming a father was the ultimate. He was hugely excited about becoming a dad again. He was so contented; had so many plans and goals," they said.

"It feels like such a huge hole has been ripped out of our insides; I don't think you can ever describe it. It's so cruel and devastating to have him taken from us."

Mr Guy came from a long line of dairy farmers and had worked as a jackaroo in the Australian Outback.

"You couldn't take the cowboy out of him. He always wore his cowboy boots and hat and was turning Hunter into a `mini-me' with his own little boots, cowboy clothes, lasso and whip," his parents said.

"So many kids looked up to him; idolised him right since school. His talent was pulling people together as a team, putting them under his wing and being very generous with his time. He was so caring."

- NZPA