A Lottah man accused of murdering his "abusive" neighbour was in the middle of moving house when he shot the man dead.
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During an interview with police on the night of the shooting, Kerry Alexander Bilston said he was protecting his partner who had been “threatened” by the victim.
The video interview was played to the jury in the Launceston Supreme Court on Friday, during the fifth day of the trial into the death of 47-year-old Dean Manshanden.
The jury watched as Mr Bilston, who has pleaded not guilty to murder, told police why he aimed a shotgun at Mr Manshanden in October last year.
The 66-year-old said he was “frightened” of Mr Manshanden, so much so that he and his partner, Kellie Gillies, were packing up the house and preparing to move out.
“We couldn’t even go outside without him yelling abuse at us … we could not step out our front door without copping a mouthful,” Mr Bilston told the officers.
He described the ongoing dispute with Mr Manshanden, which he said involved verbal abuse, arguments over boundaries and a shared driveway.
“It sounds … insignificant but it was daily and quite intense abuse,” he said.
Before the shooting, he said Mr Manshanden had abused Ms Gillies.
Mr Bilston: “The shotgun was by my front door … I grabbed it ...my intention was to show him that I did have a gun …and I am willing to protect myself.”
“I aimed above his head, but in the general direction … I lifted the shotgun and pulled the trigger.”
Officer: “Was it your intention to shoot Dean Manshanden?”
Mr Bilston: “No definitely not.”
Officer: “You were in the process of moving out, why did you feel the need to go and confront him, why didn’t you just leave it and move out?”
Mr Bilston: “Because he bullied Kellie.”
Officer: “Why [shoot] so close to his head?”
Mr Bilston: “I keep asking myself that now.”
Officer: “If you only intended to scare him ...”
Mr Bilston: “I don’t know, I just don’t know.”
Officer: “Subconsciously do you think you were aiming at him?”
Mr Bilston: “Never … never … never.”
The trial before Justice Robert Pearce will continue on Monday.
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