Scott Guy case letter writer could face jail

Richard Johnson sent a 'malicious' letter to Dianne Bullock, mother of Mr Guy's widow Kylee. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A Hastings man who sent a "malicious" letter to the mother-in-law of slain Feilding farmer Scott Guy has been convicted for wasting police time.

Richard Bradley Johnson, 41, appeared in Hastings District Court last week to defend a charge of wasting police resources after sending the anonymous letter to Dianne Bullock - mother of Scott Guy's widow, Kylee - less than two months into her son-in-law's murder inquiry.

The court heard Johnson and Mrs Bullock were former colleagues at a distribution warehouse in Hastings in 2006, where their working relationship deteriorated to the point where Johnson left in 2007, blaming her for him leaving the job.

The letter, typed on a computer and written partly in "horror style" font, where the letters appear to be dripping blood, was read by the judge:

"Mrs Bullock, oh how sad that such a tragedy has beset your family. How awful for you and your daughter. But you are such a cold-hearted bitch ... I doubt this incident has had much effect on you anyway. What goes around comes around."

In her evidence, read by police prosecutor Nigel Wolland, Mrs Bullock described her reaction on opening the letter alongside daughter Kylee and Scott's father Bryan Guy at his Feilding home on September 27.

"Oh no ... is this one of those horrible ... oh no my God it is."

Police said the hunt for the letter's author became a "priority" in the murder investigation. Six weeks were spent searching for Johnson.

Judge Alistair Garland said for the charge to be proven, prosecution had to show only that the letter was "likely" to have made Mrs Bullock fear for her safety.

Johnson's lawyer, Eric Forster, said while his client didn't deny sending the letter there was no evidence Ms Bullock had taken it as a direct threat to her safety.

The intent was to outline an apparent "karma for past misdeeds" perceived by his client.

"She was upset about it ... but that doesn't mean she interpreted it as a threat to her own safety," Mr Forster said. Judge Garland disagreed and said in the context of the "who-dunnit" murder case, Mrs Bullock "clearly had concern for her safety", as police were contacted immediately.

When detectives knocked on his door to question him on December 21, Johnson said he had been expecting police to pay him a visit. Mr Wolland said this showed Johnson knew police would spend resources tracking him down.

"He concealed his identification and travelled 20km to post the letter [in Napier] and has chosen to send it in the midst of an unsolved murder investigation."

Finding him guilty, Judge Garland said Johnson had "deliberately linked the letter with the death of Scott Guy" as he knew police would take special interest in his letter. The judge ordered a report with an option for a non-custodial sentence but said that was no indication of a sentence.

"I'm aware someone else who made false statements in the case of Scott Guy received a sentence of imprisonment." He would appear for sentencing next month.

Kylee Guy's sister Chanelle Bullock said she praised the decision. "The nature of the letter was undesirable at such a devastating and horrific time for our family," Ms Bullock said.

Manawatu man Shaun Francis Whittaker, 34, was jailed in November last year after admitting giving false information to police regarding Scott Guy's murder inquiry. He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and ordered to pay $8545 to police for wasted time.