Ewen Macdonald turns out for club rugby
HE was the man charged and then sensationally acquitted of murdering his brother-in-law Scott Guy in a bitter dispute over who would take over the family farm.
Now, as the Guy family continues to grieve the loss of a son, husband and father, Macdonald is out of jail, back in the community – and yesterday played club rugby.
To the Guy family, Macdonald is at best a cruel vandal and arsonist – but to the Belfast Munchers, who played yesterday in Canterbury’s senior classics division six competition, Macdonald is just one of the boys.
A muscular-looking Macdonald, watched by his new girlfriend, played 60 minutes for the team in their comfortable 34-16 win over High School Old Boys in front of around 50 spectators at Sheldon Park.
Belfast Rugby club president Dave Pilkington said the club had no issues with Macdonald playing for the team.
‘‘He has slotted into the Munchers team, he’s paid his subs,’’ he said.
‘‘Obviously he has moved into the community and is starting a new life, served his time and we are not prejudging him. Who are we to judge a guy that has served his time?’’
Macdonald, 37, was released in November 2015 after being jailed for burning down a duck whare, vandalising his brother in law’s newly-built house, stealing deer and killing 19 calves near the home he shared with wife Anna and their four children on the outskirts of the Manawatu town of Feilding.
But on the charge of murdering his brother-in-law Scott Guy, he was found not guilty after a jury trial at the Wellington High Court. Guy died after being shot at close range with a shotgun outside his rural property in the early hours of July 8, 2010.
Macdonald was denied parole four times, until the Parole Board opted to release his six months before the end of his five-anda-half-year sentence.
Macdonald’s father, Kerry, declined to comment. Guy’s parents are overseas and were unavailable for comment.
The Belfast club boasts many former All Blacks among its ranks, including Craig Green, a 1987 World Cup winner, and former All Blacks captain Todd Blackadder.
He has slotted into the Munchers team, he’s paid his subs.’ DAVE PILKINGTON