Cop charged with Anzac Day murder
An Invercargill policeman has been charged with the murder of his estranged wife after an Anzac Day double shooting.
Verity McLean was shot dead and her partner Garry Duggan suffered several gunshot wounds in the attack at their property in the suburb of Newfield. Duggan managed to phone emergency services at 8.19pm on Tuesday.
He is understood to be in a stable condition in Dunedin Hospital.
McLean’s husband, Ben McLean – who also suffered injuries during the incident – handed himself in at Invercargill Police Station 40 minutes later.
He was admitted to Southland hospital, and at a bedside court hearing yesterday he was charged with his wife’s murder and the attempted murder of Duggan.
Verity’s sister, who also lives in the Southland town, declined to comment when approached at home.
But friends paint a picture of Verity as a ‘‘lovely lady’’ who was a ‘‘caring, happy, great mum’’.
Phil Brocks, who owns the property where the shooting occurred, said he had been in contact with Ben, Garry and Verity over the past few weeks.
‘‘I am close to Ben, but I have been friends with Garry for a long time and he’s a really great guy.’’
Another acquaintance of the McLeans, who did not want to be named, said she had been friends with the couple ‘‘for years’’.
‘‘To me they were just a rolemodel family. I am sad for everyone involved,’’ she said.
Ben McLean was wearing a grey t-shirt and white trousers when a bedside court hearing took place yesterday afternoon at Southland Hospital. He had no visible injuries.
He made no plea to murdering Verity McLean and the attempted murder of Duggan. He was remanded in custody to May 18.
He and Verity have three chil- dren under the age of 20.
He graduated from the Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua on December 18, 2007, before starting work in Invercargill a few weeks later.
McLean has been part of the Southern District policing team since. He has worked on road policing cases and road safety campaigns.
His mother, Mary, when asked what might have led to the shooting, said: ‘‘It’s a very, very long story’’.
A firearm was recovered at the scene. Police would not say what kind of gun it was, but said it was not a police issue weapon.
Fairfax NZ