Murder accused near tears at card

Greg Meads' wife Helen had said she was going to leave him. Photo / Christine Cornege

In a rare display of emotion, murder accused Greg Meads was moved close to tears when shown a card his former wife had written for him.

He read aloud the contents of the Valentine's Day card Helen Meads had written for him before taking some time to regain his composure.

It simply said: "You are my everything."

The 55-year-old Meads is on trial at the High Court in Hamilton for the murder of his former wife, Helen Meads, a mother of three.

Meads shot his 42-year-old wife once in the throat on September 23 last year at their 8ha Matamata property, four days after she told him she was undergoing counselling and wanted to leave him.

The Crown is seeking a murder conviction against the horse breeder and trainer but his defence counsel is arguing he did not intend to kill her.

In his opening statement, Meads' lawyer Murray McKechnie told the jury Mrs Meads had been "playing a double game".

He said Meads believed he was in a loving relationship and they were working successfully together in their business partnership.

The court also heard that on the morning Mrs Meads told him she was leaving, she had sent text messages that ended with kisses and hugs.

Mr McKechnie said that despite the couple amicably discussing their separation plans, Mrs Meads had an ulterior motive.

One text from a friend told her to "clean him out" of all of his belongings, and Mrs Meads told another that he would "be f*****" when she was finished with him.

"She was going through the motions," said Mr McKechnie.

"She was saying one thing to him and planning something quite different. He found himself in a situation where he had been told one thing by her but it simply wasn't true," said Mr McKechnie.

Meads did not acknowledge his step-daughter Kimberley, 18, who sat behind him in a full public gallery.

He has displayed no emotion during the trial but was visibly uncomfortable when shown a number of birthday and Father's Day cards and a letter his former wife had written to him.

Asked if he intended to kill his wife, Meads said: "Definitely not".

"I only wish she could be here today. It is the single worst moment of my life. I regret it every day," he said.

Earlier pathologist Dr Simon Stables said the single shot from Meads' double-barrelled shotgun had shattered Mrs Meads' windpipe, part of her spine and her lungs.

Dr Stables believed the shotgun had been held at very close range.

Detective Chris Smith of Matamata police said Meads was pacing and talking on a phone along the driveway when he arrived at the home.

Meads told him: "I shot my wife. She's in the stable. There's no one else here."

Meads will continue to give evidence today.