Ballarat murder trial: Lucas tells his story

JON Lucas appeared calm and relaxed as he walked out the doors of the Ballarat police station and tasted freedom for the first time since early last year.Dressed in a suit and tie as he had been throughout the week-and-a-half long trial, the 29-year-old was flanked by family members and his barrister, Neill Hutton. But despite the relief he no doubt must have felt, Mr Lucas was measured, articulate and composed in the brief interview he gave."At the end of the day nobody wins out of this," he said. "I've lost my life, they've lost a loved one. (I) have to start life again."His words reflected those of a man who felt compassion for the person he killed and the people whose lives had suffered as a result.During the trial Mr Lucas said he "didn't want to shoot at all that night". Mr Lucas was the last witness called to give evidence, and the only defence witness. "I just wanted to get the truth out there. Just tell the truth," he said.When asked about the challenge of sitting through a trial which saw a number of his friends testify and could have seen him sentenced to several years in prison, Mr Lucas said "(it was) as tough as the incident itself". As for what's next for a man who's had his life turned upside down over a dispute about a bobcat, Mr Lucas was undecided."No idea, no idea, (I've) got to start my life again," he said.Many of Mr Lucas' family had to fight back tears upon hearing the result.One relative could only describe the past year-and-a-half as "stressful"."It gives confidence in the system itself," she said. "It does work. Thank God he wasn't guilty of what happened."She said the whole experience was "life-changing" and would give them all a new perspective on life.