Hope for justice dashed
SCOTT GUY’S devastated widow Kylee has never seen Ewen Macdonald questioned by lawyers in court over the murder of her husband, and it appears she never will.
Mrs Guy had petitioned Palmerston North coroner Carla na Nagara to launch an inquiry into the shotgun slaying of Mr Guy, 31, outside their Feilding home in July 2010.
She and their two sons Hunter, 5, and Drover, 3, needed assurance that no stone had been left unturned in the search for his killer.
But her hopes were dashed yesterday when the coroner chose to rule on Mr Guy’s death instead, concluding that he died from bullet wounds to his neck, inflicted by whoever lay waiting for him at the end of his driveway in the early-morning darkness that day.
Macdonald – then Mr Guy’s brother-in-law and business partner – was arrested for the murder in April 2011 but found not guilty after a month-long High Court trial last year.
Had the coroner opted to persist with an inquiry, she could have summoned Macdonald to give evidence in person.
In her decision, Ms na Nagara noted that Macdonald had exercised his right not to give evidence in person at his trial.
‘‘In my view, it would undermine the integrity of the criminal trial process if I chose to compel Mr Macdonald to give evidence in person at a coroner’s inquest, convened solely to identify Mr Guy’s killer,’’ she said. ‘‘I note there are no other suspects who would be called.’’
Mrs Guy’s sister, Chanelle Bullock, declined to comment on behalf of the family last night.
Having considered the court transcripts and the scope of the police inquiry, Ms na Nagara said she was satisfied all available steps had been taken to determine how Mr Guy died.
Were she to hold an inquest, it would be ‘‘disingenuous’’ to suggest a finding would be made regarding anyone other than Macdonald, as no other witnesses had been sought by lawyers acting for Mrs Guy.
‘‘There is no cogent evidence pointing to anyone else having been involved, so the finding of fact implicitly urged [by Kylee Guy’s legal team] is that Mr Macdonald was the person who killed Mr Guy.’’
She ruled Mr Guy’s death was either a ‘‘random or opportunistic act’’ or was ‘‘related to issues firmly rooted in his private or personal life’’.
Mr Guy’s father, Bryan Guy, said he had read the coroner’s report and agreed with her decision
‘‘When we look at her legal responsibilities, I think she’s done all she can do,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s just another chapter in the whole story. We’d love to know who killed Scott, obviously, but this doesn’t really answer that question and so it doesn’t end it for us. It doesn’t bring Scott back.’’
Mr Guy’s sister, Anna Guy – Ewen’s former wife – said she was satisfied with the coroner’s ruling.
‘‘It’s up to them to make the decision, not anyone else. I can’t really argue with it. They know what they are doing,’’ she said.
Macdonald is serving a five-year prison term for crimes, including arson and vandalism of property belonging to Scott and Kylee Guy.
His first bid for parole was unsuccessful last year and he will see the Parole Board again before Christmas.