Desperate for dad's embrace

Hunter comforts Kylee Guy as the widow spoke to media. Photo / Mark Mitchell

For a wee boy, there are few places as perfect as dad's lap.

But Hunter Guy, 2, lost that six weeks ago when a killer gunned down his dad Scott in Manawatu.

During a television interview on Campbell Live with TV3's John Campbell, Hunter slipped from the grasp of mum Kylee Guy to climb up and briefly sit on the TV interviewer's lap.

"He came across to say hello," said Campbell, who has two young children. "For me what it spoke of most was the absence of his dad's lap."

It was a poignant moment in one of a series of interviews organised by police in a bid to give greater profile to the case. Campbell spent about 15 minutes interviewing Kylee Guy for the Friday night programme.

Before speaking to Campbell, Hunter "had free reign" while Kylee Guy prepared, said Campbell. "He's just a curious 2-year-old. He wanted to know how everything worked."

The boy peered through the camera and wandered about the area where the interview was to be carried out before settling down on Kylee Guy's lap.

Viewers watched Hunter slip from his sobbing mother to wander across the space separating her from Campbell, who at times also appeared close to tears. Hunter clambered up and settled in for about 15 seconds.

"You can't not be affected by that," said Campbell. "At the end of it, you're wrung out. It's just a terribly sad story."

Meanwhile, the son of slain school teacher Lois Dear is hoping to launch a fundraising programme to put together a reward for anyone who can give information leading to the arrest of Scott Guy's killer.

Kevin McNeil said he wanted to do everything he could to help bring Guy's killer to justice.

"The police have done a hell of a lot of work on this case. They are doing all they can but they've got no leads. I think a bounty could be the key," he said.

McNeil's mother was murdered in her Tokoroa classroom as she was catching up on paperwork in July 2006.

McNeil said he hoped the fund would be open by this Thursday.

Can you help? Phone police on 0800 808 585 or 0800 555 111.