A woman who was the intended target of a hit man is elated her son has been found guilty of trying to organise the crime, a relative says.
Tauranga man Alan Francis Barlow was found guilty of plotting to hire a hit man to kill his elderly parents. The jury at the High Court in Rotorua deliberated for just 70 minutes yesterday, finding him guilty of hiring an undercover police officer masquerading as a hit man.
Justice Denis Clifford remanded Barlow for sentencing on September 26.
The Tauranga man stood emotionless in the dock as the verdict was delivered.
Outside the court, a distant relative, Daniel Ryder, who testified against Barlow, said the verdict left him ecstatic. He had immediately called Barlow's mother, who shared his elation.
"This has been very distressing for the whole family," Mr Ryder said. "Trying to get someone to murder your parents just isn't family morals."
Long-time family friends, John and Johanna Hutchings of Tauranga, were shocked Barlow had been convicted and worried about how he'd cope in jail.
"He doesn't deserve this," they said, believing a long history of family dysfunction had led to the charge Barlow faced.
Tauranga detective Logan Nicholas gave the court a run-down of his taped interview with Barlow on December 12, 2013. In the video Barlow strenuously denied wanting to have his parents murdered after falling out with them over the Invercargill home they jointly owned and financial matters related to it.
Barlow claimed Mr Ryder indicated he was going to get someone to do something for him but he didn't know what.
Barlow said after a couple of phone calls he'd met the officer masquerading as a hit man. He'd described himself as a fixer but Barlow said he didn't know what he was planning to fix.
"A few thousand dollars had been mentioned; I thought it was just fixing my house or car," Barlow said.
Closing the Crown's case, prosecutor Hayley Sheridan told the court Barlow wanted to hasten his parents' death and had provided a floor plan of their home with an X marking where they slept.
"I suggest you will have no trouble determining Barlow's purpose was to get 'John' [the supposed hit man] to kill his parents. If he had come up with the payment he would have had a watertight agreement with him."
Barlow's lawyer, Craig Tuck, said the trial had been short and short on evidence. He described the Barlow family as one that had "gone feral".