Shooting victim was new dad who had 'turned life around'

The man killed in Nelson's Maitai Valley on Saturday had recently become a father for the first time and was beginning to turn his life around, his boss says.

Troy Minto had spent about 2 1/2 years working as a scaffolder at Nayland Scaffold and Crane.

Most of the dozen-strong team had heard of his death before turning up to work today, but scaffold manager Jonny Benbow said they were upset at having it confirmed.

"He loved his job and he was good at it.

"He had the right work ethic, he turned up and got on and got the job done.

"Not everybody does that these days."

They had been offered counselling, but Mr Benbow said staff had been encouraged not to dwell on what had happened. "But even now it can be a little bit hard to comprehend, he's just not at work."

Mr Minto's first child, a daughter, was born about five months ago.

"He absolutely loved it," Mr Benbow said.

Mr Minto was jailed after taking an ambulance for a drunken joyride in late 2007, but Mr Benbow said becoming a father seemed to have settled him down.

"He certainly came with a bit of a reputation depending on who you talked to, but you know, when he was at work he was a really pleasant guy."

Mr Benbow said Mr Minto, "a Nelson boy", was into cars.

"He was a really decent guy ... he will be sorely missed around here."

- © Fairfax NZ News