Murder accused Ewen Macdonald said whoever killed his brother-in-law Scott Guy should face the death penalty, a court has been told.
The Crown alleges Macdonald shot and killed Mr Guy, 31, early on July 8, 2010 after growing tensions over the future of the Feilding family farm they co-managed.
Macdonald, 32, has denied murdering Mr Guy.
The trial in the High Court at Wellington entered its second week today with evidence about the two men's relationship, which is crucial in establishing a motive.
Farm worker Arthur Whittaker, also known as BJ Worthington, worked part-time on the farm at the time of Mr Guy's death.
He came in to work in the milking shed that afternoon after learning Mr Guy was dead and offering his help.
Mr Worthington asked Macdonald what had happened.
"He said someone shot him."
The Crown alleges Macdonald could only have known Mr Guy had been shot because he was the killer.
Under cross-examination from defence lawyer Greg King, Mr Worthington said he was "positive" that Macdonald had said he was shot, rather than got.
Mr Worthington said he later mentioned to Macdonald that whoever had killed Scott was a coward, to which Macdonald nodded.
"He said that when they finally did it [convicted someone] they should bring back the death penalty because a life for a life seems fair."
Macdonald said whoever had killed Mr Guy had probably fled overseas.
Mr Worthington's evidence is continuing.
Farm consultant Simon Redmond earlier told the jury that Mr Guy's death came up in conversation with Macdonald sometime between the murder and Macdonald's arrest.
Macdonald had described Mr Guy as "braver than most", which Mr Redmond said he took to mean he had faced his killer.
But he also said the comment could have been general and related to Mr Guy competing in rodeo competitions, and was not linked to Mr Guy's killer.
"There was nothing in that as it stood that would cause me any concern," he said.
Mr Redmond said he and Macdonald had discussed shotguns about a month or two after Mr Guy's death.
"I found out that shotguns aren't traceable ... he just said you can't tell which gun's been used."
The Crown alleges Macdonald may have used the shotgun from the family farm, which was stored unsecured on the property.
Mr Redmond said the conversation also touched on Mr Guy's death being a "random event".
He said the relationship between Macdonald and Mr Guy "soured" after the accused married Mr Guy's sister Anna.
"Probably as Ewen became more the manager and took more responsibility, it started to drift apart."
Jackson Gilbert, who worked on the farm part-time and later full-time for half a year, said there was rivalry between Macdonald and Mr Guy.
"I could definitely tell there was a bit of rivalry between them ... just comments that were said from Ewen sometimes, not very often."
He recalled one time Mr Guy and his brother Callum returned from work on the farm because it was too wet.
Macdonald had jokingly referred to Mr Guy as a cowboy and farmer of the year.
Earlier report
Murder accused Ewen Macdonald talked about how shotguns could not be traced following the death of his brother-in-law Scott Guy, a court has been told.
The Crown alleges Macdonald shot and killed Mr Guy, 31, early on July 8, 2010 after growing tensions over the future of the Feilding family farm they co-managed.
Macdonald, 32, has denied murdering Mr Guy.
Farm consultant Simon Redmond said Mr Guy's death came up in conversation with Macdonald sometime between the murder and Macdonald's arrest.
"I did have a discussion with him about shotguns," he told the jury.
"I found out that shotguns aren't traceable ... he just said you can't tell which gun's been used."
The Crown alleges Macdonald may have used the shotgun from the family farm, which was stored unsecured on the property.
Mr Redmond said the conversation also touched on Mr Guy's death being a "random event".
Earlier report
Murder accused Ewen Macdonald told a farm worker to "leave it" when he asked if he should fetch Scott Guy after he did not show up for milking on the day he was killed, a court has been told.
The Crown alleges Macdonald shot and killed Mr Guy, 31, early on July 8, 2010 after growing tensions over the future of the Feilding family farm they co-managed.
Macdonald, 32, has denied murdering Mr Guy.
The trial in the High Court at Wellington enters it second week today with evidence about the two men's relationship, which is crucial in establishing a motive.
Matthew Ireland, who was doing work experience on the farm, said he arrived first at the farm workshop the day Mr Guy was killed.
A light went on and Macdonald arrived shortly afterwards.
"He just looked like he'd just woken up", Mr Ireland said.
Mr Guy was supposed to have turned up first but he was not there.
"I asked if Scotty's slept in and we had a bit of a laugh about it ... I didn't say anything, I just laughed."
Mr Ireland said he asked Macdonald if he should go to Mr Guy's house further up the road to see where he was.
"He said, 'No, just leave it, we'll give him a text."'
He again suggested he fetch Mr Guy halfway through the milking.
"He said no, he tried to text him and rung him so I left it at that."
Mr Ireland returned to his house for breakfast after the milking and it was only when he returned to the farm that he learned Mr Guy had been killed.
"I sat there and I didn't really believe it at first."
Dairy farmer Andrew Short, who worked on the farm on weekends during high school and later over holidays while studying at university, earlier told the court the relationship between the men was "hot and cold".
"Scott sometimes had his own opinion about Ewen but they still worked together."
He recalled a time he visited the farm and asked after Mr Guy, to which Macdonald said he was "probably skiving off somewhere".
Mr Short said that kind of comment was not unusual and the men often had different opinions on how the farm should be run.
He could not recall any other day on which Macdonald said anything about Mr Guy.
Mr Short said the two men were often competing with one another.
He said when one got a tattoo or new car, the other did too.
"Scott and Ewen had competition between each other ... competition to be better."
The trial before Justice Simon France and a jury of 11 continues.
