Bryan Guy revealed that a "rivalry" existed between the murdered Feilding farmer and his brother-in-law, Ewen Kerry Macdonald - the man accused of gunning down Mr Guy.
It was serious enough that a meeting had to be called between the two men to resolve issues over the running of the Guy family farm.
Macdonald - the husband of Mr Guy's sister Anna - appeared in the Palmerston North District Court yesterday charged with murdering his 31-year-old brother-in-law on July 8 last year.
He said there did not appear to be any recent animosity between Mr Guy and Macdonald, but he had had to step in several years back.
"There was some rivalry, especially in the early days. We had family meetings and thought we'd sorted it out. The last year or so, everyone seemed to be getting along really well.
Bryan Guy also told of how his daughter told her four children - Finn, Jack, Lucy and Wade, aged between 2 1/2 and 7 - that their father had been accused of killing their beloved uncle.
"I stayed at Anna's last night. I had to go out milking and when I got back we were going to tell them together," he said.
"But they saw Scott on television on the news and Anna told them. She explained that Dad said he didn't do it, but the police say he did. They said 'Dad didn't do it'.
"The two older boys understand ... but the others are too young."
He said his daughter had been teary and emotional, but desperately wanted to believe her husband was innocent. She wore her wedding ring in court and clung to her father as MacDonald was led into the dock by police.
Throughout the hearing she looked drawn, pale and anxious and rested her head on her father's shoulder at times, looking close to tears.
"Anna believes Ewen at this stage. She wants to believe him. We all want to believe him. It's hard to fathom ... It's just disbelief as you can imagine.
"Anna is coping as good as can be expected I guess. She's in a wave of emotion, just like the rest of us."
Mrs Macdonald walked into court arm-in-arm with her brother's widow, Kylee. Mrs Guy had baby son Drover - born three months after his father was murdered - in her arms. Drover cried out in court and Mrs Macdonald at one point turned and reached for Mrs Guy, seated several rows behind her.
Once Macdonald appeared in the dock, Mrs Guy - who was supported in court by her parents, sisters and Mr Guy's brother, Callum - became upset and fled the court room sobbing.
Mrs Macdonald sat in the front row with Bryan Guy and her father-in-law, Kerry MacDonald.
Mr Macdonald's other son Blair - a Wellington police officer - cried and looked distressed during the hearing.
Macdonald's lawyer, Greg King, said the accused chose not to seek bail or name suppression.
"He appreciates there is a great deal of publicity and interest in this unsolved murder ... he denies any involvement whatsoever in the killing of Mr Guy."
Macdonald also faces six other charges, but a suppression order prohibits the publication of any details.
Outside court, Bryan Guy said yesterday's court appearance was "very very tough" and worse for the family than the day Mr Guy was killed.
Bryan Guy said his son's death was like "a ripple through a pond".
"But today, this one's like a tsunami that's hit us. Kylee's really good. She was very concerned about Anna. It's marvellous really that she was able to do that ... there's no animosity, nobody is angry - not at this stage.
"It might come, but it won't bring Scott back. It doesn't make it go away."
He never expected one of his own family to be fingered for his son's murder.
He said the family wanted to believe the best of MacDonald.
"That's not Ewen. We can't imagine that he would do such a thing. He's facing some other charges - he's made some bad choices in the past.
"But we can't imagine that he would do that. If not guilty is what he's saying, I will certainly give him the benefit of the doubt."
Bryan Guy said Macdonald's family was devastated by the charges.
"We always hoped it would be a stranger. This is our worst nightmare, worse than when Scott was murdered."
Mr Guy was best man at Macdonald's wedding. Macdonald, who is on the board of trustees at his children's primary school, spoke at his funeral and helped to carry his casket from the service. Police yesterday searched areas of the Guy farm.
Mrs Guy no longer lives on the property where her husband was killed.
She moved to the Hawkes Bay soon after Mr Guy's shooting and has not returned to their home, which is on the market.
