The family of the late Scott Guy spoke to Cushla Norman about the importance of resilience, gratitude and spending quality time together as they continue to heal 15 years after the Feilding farmer’s murder.
Watch the full interview with the Guy family on TVNZ+
Kylee Guy was seven months pregnant with the couple’s second child and had a two-year-old when her husband was shot and killed in his driveway in rural Manawatū.
Scott had been on the way to work on the morning of July 8, 2010.
Now Kylee's son Drover is nearly 15-years-old and a “little clone” of his dad, right down to his love of the same music. While her eldest son Hunter is like Scott in “a different way”, enjoying rugby and clothes. She has a third child, Husky, born in 2015.
“I've got males in the boys’ life that they look up to and that are there for the boys, because obviously Scotty can't be,” Kylee said.
One of those male figures is Bryan Guy, Scott’s father. He was there for the birth of Drover and did a ceremonial cutting of the cord with a special pocketknife Scott had bought especially.
“Because Scott wasn't able to be there, Kylee asked if I could be there, which was a huge privilege.”
Kylee Guy on her two older boys, Drover and Hunter. (Source: 1News)
Last month, Bryan and Drover took part in an eight-day course at Outward Bound in the Marlborough Sounds, including a couple of nights out in the bush on their own.
'Special bond'
Bryan said they have always had a special bond, but the experience brought them closer and made them more resilient.
“I certainly was quite nervous to start with, and not sure what we were letting ourselves in for. But then by the time we finished, we were very confident that we could overcome all our fears,” said Bryan.
Drover said it was a “pretty amazing” experience and “something everyone should do”.
He said it gave him a sense of gratitude for everything he has in his life.
When he returned, Kylee noticed her son, who can be “quite shy”, had more confidence.
“He's just got this new little way about himself, a little bit of cheek," she said. “Going into something, the unknown, and knowing you can achieve it and come out of it going, ‘oh my god,’ I did that - and that’s that sense of pride as well.”
Outward Bound instructor Luke Cherrington noticed by the end of the course Bryan was waiting a few seconds to share his ideas, while Drover was taking the opportunity to step in and share his thoughts.
Bryan, who is 70, said Scott should have been the one taking Drover to Outward Bound.
“Spending time with family is a big part of the healing,” said Bryan.
No one held accountable
Fifteen years on, no one has been held accountable for Scott’s killing. His brother-in-law Ewen Macdonald was found not guilty of murder after a month-long trial in 2012.
Kylee says having no resolution is “really hard” and she reiterates her plea for anyone with any information to come forward.
Police said the case file was last reviewed in 2022, and remains open. Should any further information come to light, police would assess it and respond accordingly.
Asked if the healing process ever stops, Kylee said: "I wish I could say yes. That life would be great if you could say yes. But no, you just deal with it. You've got no choice what you go through. I think it's just sadly, what you're given in life.
“You just have to keep going and try to put a smile on your face. We just focus on us, me and my three boys. It's our life, so we try to make it the best we can.”
Watch Cushla Norman's interview with the Guy family on TVNZ+
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