NSW:NSW farmer 'harassed' by alleged killer

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2010
NSW:NSW farmer 'harassed' by alleged killer

SYDNEY, Dec 1 AAP - A NSW beef farmer twice reported the aggressive actions of his
neighbour to police in the months before he was shot dead by the man, a Sydney court has
been told.

Colin Hatton,66, was shot and killed at his northern NSW cattle farm on April 20, 2009.

His neighbour, Alfonso Ceniccola, 71, is standing trial in the NSW Supreme Court for
murder at the farm near Cuttabri, west of Narrabri.

He has pleaded not guilty.

The two neighbours, both grandfathers, had disagreed about a boundary fence in 2007.

The court was told on Wednesday that Mr Hatton had twice reported to police, in the
months before he died, that he had been harassed by Ceniccola.

Sergeant Geoffrey Oakley said that in February 2009, Mr Hatton had told him his neighbour
had been tailgating him and driving up beside him on the wrong side of the road.

The following month, Mr Hatton reported another incident, this time to Sergeant Gregory Heckel.

Mr Hatton said Ceniccola had tailgated him before cutting him off with his red utility
and slamming on the brakes, causing him to slam his own brakes, Sgt Heckel told the court.

Mr Hatton had also said he had been followed into a post office at Wee Waa, where Ceniccola
had repeatedly said, "I want to talk to you."

Sgt Heckel said he had been told by Mr Hatton that the two men had been involved in
a long-running dispute over a fence.

"He said, basically it all came from a dispute over a fence line on their adjoining
properties," he told the court.

"As a result of the dispute, they went through arbitration and as far as he was concerned,
it was over and done with, but for some reason his neighbour just wouldn't let it go."

Counsel for Ceniccola has previously told the court his client shot Mr Hatton by accident.

The trial is continuing before Justice Ian Harrison.

AAP bm/wjf/nb/de

KEYWORD: CENICCOLA

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