Man 'snapped' before boyracer shooting, court told

A Taranaki man who allegedly shot at a boyracer's car with a .22 rifle has been committed for trial.

Stanley Zane Milne, 50, a crane operator of Egmont Village, near New Plymouth, has denied the shooting, as well as threatening to cause grievous bodily harm.

At a depositions hearing in New Plymouth District Court yesterday his wife claimed their family had been hounded by boyracers for 18 months before he started firing.

She was confident, however, that her husband was only firing warning shots into the air with what she presumed was a slug gun.

Police allege Milne also threatened to put a "bullet in the head" of a motorcyclist who was riding near his home the day before he is accused of firing at the car of the boyracer, the Taranaki Daily News reported.

Police said Milne "snapped" in the early hours of May 17 last year after being woken by a car being driven by Eltham teenager Scott Wilson.

Mr Wilson, 18, told the court he was doing a "doughnut" when he heard a banging noise against his car.

"It was like a big rock hitting the side of the car," he said.

He later found two .22 bullets, in the boot and brake light of his car.

Justices of the Peace Tom Ryder and Don Morton committed Milne for trial. He was bailed to appear in the High Court for callover on June 30.

- NZPA