Guy trial: Farm in family buy-out

Anna Macdonald. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Scott Guy's wife, sister and brother-in-law - his alleged murderer - have been removed as shareholders in the family farm.

Companies Office records show Ewen Macdonald, who is accused of murdering Guy, was removed as a shareholder from Byreburn Limited, the family company that owns the Guy farm and surrounding properties.

Macdonald's wife Anna, and Guy's widow Kylee, were also removed as shareholders on February 1.

The family homestead where Ewen and Anna Macdonald lived with their four children was also sold to Byreburn Limited in January. Scott and Kylee Guy's home was sold for $520,000 last July, according to property records.

Ewen Macdonald's murder trial at the High Court in Wellington has heard rivalries existed between the men over who would take over the business.

Macdonald, who denies murdering his brother-in-law, had worked at the farm since leaving school at 16.

The trial heard both men earned around $100,000 a year as farm managers, although Anna Macdonald testified that her husband harboured unfounded suspicions that Guy was paid more.

The court has been told that Guy announced in 2008 that he wanted to take over the family farm, which caused tensions.

In May 2008, his parents Bryan and Jo Guy transferred 400 shares - 20 per cent of the business - to each of Guy and Macdonald and their wives.

That ownership structure largely remained in place until Guy's death in July 2010. He was found dead near the gate of the farm early one morning, and police say he was murdered with a shotgun.

In February this year, Macdonald and his wife Anna and a third person owned 200 shares, equal to 10 per cent, of the business.

Kylee Guy and her mother Diane, plus Bryan Guy and a fourth person, owned another 10 per cent.

Kylee's mother Diane Bulloch, who was only added as a shareholder in October last year, has also now been removed as a shareholder.

Scott Guy's sister Nikki, who has been called to give evidence, was added as a shareholder and owns about a sixth of the company with her parents holding the rest.

Nikki Guy, a one-time National Party prospect for Parliament, is still a Palmerston North City councillor.

Bryan Guy has said that the family were unable to talk to media while the trial was ongoing, as they were still being called to give evidence.