Farmer's killing brings back memories for another widow

Agnes Nicholas said she empathised with the emotions Bryan and Jo Guy had expressed in interviews. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Police last night allowed the family of Feilding dairy farmer Scott Guy back into his home for the first time since his fatal shooting on Thursday.

"We obviously left without taking much on Thursday morning," the 31-year-old's father, Bryan Guy, said as he fed pet ducks and chickens at the house.

He was arranging for a friend to stay at the house but it was not known when Scott's pregnant wife Kylee and 2-year-old son would move back. Mr Guy said his daughter-in-law had spent about six hours being interviewed at the Palmerston North police station yesterday.

Police had not been able to share any new information about the murder with the family.

It is six days since Scott Guy was found shot dead on his driveway and his killing has brought back haunting memories for one Hawkes Bay woman.

As soon as Agnes Nicholas read the news of Mr Guy's death, memories of her husband's unsolved death came flooding back. Mrs Nicholas still lives on the farm in remote Puketitiri where Jack Nicholas was shot dead at the gate of their cottage in August 2004.

"Reading about it, and seeing the family on TV, I immediately thought of Jack. When I was watching the interview I felt very, very sorry for them."

Mrs Nicholas said she empathised with the emotions Bryan and Jo Guy had expressed in interviews.

"I can understand completely when they said they weren't angry. I didn't feel anger at all, either ... just shock and disbelief that a thing like that could happen to such a nice person."

She hoped the Guy family would see quicker justice. In May 2008, Murray Foreman, 50, was acquitted of murdering Mr Nicholas after a high-profile, eight-week trial at the Napier District Court.

Police have not charged anyone else with the killing.

The trial focused on the evidence of Mr Foreman's neighbour, who claimed, more than a year after the death, that he told her on the day of the shooting he thought he had just shot someone.

The family still longs to know why Mr Nicholas was killed, but could not endure another trial.

"It never goes away," said Mrs Nicholas. "It's nearly six years now for us and it hurts a lot at times."

She had some advice for the Guy family.

"I would say to them to be strong and ... let your family and friends comfort you at this time."