The defence in the Scott Guy murder trial has rubbished claims the killer wore dive boots similar to a pair owned by the murder accused.
The Feilding farmer was shot twice in his driveway on July 8, 2010 at 4.43am. Ewen Macdonald, his brother-in-law, has pleaded not guilty to shooting him over tensions at the family farm.
Distinctive footprints left at the scene of the crime are alleged to be from size nine Proline-brand dive boots worn by Ewen.
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However, a crown witness admitted to the High Court in Wellington today the prints seemed to come from a bigger boot, indicated by the number of ripples on the sole.
"The number of wave patterns we have would suggest, quite strongly, that we are dealing with a size 11 or size 12," defence lawyer Greg King said.
Defence said the evidence suggested there were between 32 and 33 rows of waves counted on the footprints, compared with 29 counted on a sample size nine boot.
Police were never able to recover the boots allegedly worn by Ewen. The murder accused's wife Anna Macdonald and her mother Joanne Guy have both told the court they had not seen his diving boots since well before Scott's death.
Earlier today, ESR forensic scientist Jayshree Patel, who specialises in DNA, also gave evidence.
Patel said swabs taken from the trigger of the firearm found mixed DNA profiling results.
Swabs from a plank of fence from four sections in the area results showed male DNA detected in one section.
There was no DNA found in swabs taken from the main gate of 293 Aorangi Rd, where Scott was found dead, or five areas in and outside the house.
Uncertainty over farm future
The court also heard today how Scott suggested Ewen could manage and work on another farm.
Anna said the murder accused was concerned about what direction the farm was going in because there was not enough room for him, Scott, and Scott's father Bryan Guy to all work there.
After hearing there might be a possible expansion to the farm, Joanne told Anna no decisions would be made without a family meeting.
Anna said she and Ewen discussed the idea and agreed they did not want to move or work on another farm because Ewen enjoyed working on the family farm, known as Bryeburn. She had told Ewen not to panic or worry.
Bryan also gave evidence about the family business in court today.
He told the court he and his wife Joanne attended a conference in Christchurch to look at financial forecasting and strategic plans for the business just days before the murder.
Bryan said one of the ideas discussed at the Post Ice Bridge conference was whether Ewen or Scott could manage a farm for someone else.
The idea behind planning to manage another farm came because Bryeburn was struggling with three different salaries.
The Crown evidence is expected to finish this week.