Man alleged to have threatened to kill John Key awaits verdict

File photo / NZ Herald

A jury has been reassured about the state of mind of Mark Stafford Feary - accused of threatening the Prime Minister and government officials - after it asked a question during verdict deliberations in Christchurch District Court.

Feary, a 53-year-old farmer from Oxford, denies 12 charges of threatening politicians and government officials with grievous bodily harm and two charges of threatening to kill Prime Minister John Key.

The threats were made by letter and fax early last year, and related to a long running dispute with the Commissioner of Crown Lands over farmland.

Judge Raoul Neave summed up the case today, the fifth day of the trial, and the jury retired to consider its verdicts.

It returned to court an hour later after sending out a written question but the judge told them it was "not really a relevant inquiry".

"There has been no suggestion that Mr Feary falls foul of the Criminal Procedures (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act," he said. There was no evidence that he fell within the category of people who were not fit to stand trial.

The jury then returned to the jury room to continue deliberations.

Feary has been defending himself at the trial, and spent a whole day in the witness box, giving his evidence.

- NZPA