'I thought we were dead as well'

Brent Dumper's wife, Karyn (second from left), and his children (L-R) Jessie, Katie and Shane. Photo / Gold Coast Bulletin.

The family of murdered Kiwi Brent Dumper tell a court what happened at the fateful party.

At first glance Karyn Dumper thought the shotgun pointed at her husband was nothing more than a toy. Then the shots rang out.

The former New Zealand couple had been visiting their daughter on the Gold Coast but the housewarming celebrations turned to tragedy on May 30 when 46-year-old Brent Dumper, who hailed from Waiuku, was fatally shot in the back.

Neighbour Bevan Carl Forsythe, 36, is charged with his murder and the attempted murder of Sunshine Coast guest Michael Norman McMillan.

Yesterday Mrs Dumper sat in the witness stand with a photo of her husband as she stared into the eyes of his alleged murderer and gave evidence at the second day of committal hearing.

"I thought it was a toy gun at first," she said. "He had the shotgun shoved straight in his back in front of me and his daughter. We'll have nightmares forever over that."

Mrs Dumper and daughter Jessie Anderson said they fled after two shots were fired but Mr Forsythe followed them and cocked the gun at their faces.

"We were standing there in shock," Ms Anderson said tearfully. "I thought we were dead as well. I just wanted him to hurry up and shoot us."

But instead Mr Forsythe allegedly fled to his home where girlfriend Amanda Roberts confronted him.

"He said to me 'You seen nothing, you know nothing'," Ms Roberts said.

During cross-examination from defence barrister Callan Cassidy, she said it was possible Mr Forsythe had said "that wasn't supposed to happen".

Witnesses told the court Mr Forsythe was intoxicated and, like most of the guests, had shared alcohol and drugs including cannabis, diet pills and a single acid trip.

Ms Anderson said Mr Forsythe became aggressive, repeatedly asking her father to spar with him.

He was asked to leave the party but he allegedly returned with his shotgun.

The committal hearing continues until Friday before magistrate Terry Duroux.