Greg O’Connor remembers the murder of Ian Silby 35 years later.

Cambelle Cook

Self-Published

May 9, 2025

Michael Busch (far left) is seen with detectives Rangi Nichols (middle) and Greg O'Connor (far right) entering court

Greg O’Connor recalled one of the most complex and fascinating cases of his career, the 1989 murder of 14-year-old Ian Silby in Martinborough.

Ian Silby moved to Martinborough in 1988, after sexual misconduct allegations had emerged against his school’s principal. Concerned about her son, Silby’s mother decided to send the 14-year-old to permanently live with his aunt and uncle, Mel and Michael Busch, in the picturesque town near the bottom of the North Island.

Ian had visited the Busches before, during the school holidays with his older brother Bevan. This time, Silby began working as a labourer at the local vineyard managed by Michael Busch.

While O’Connor said Silby was described as “a bit of a smartass,” he was reportedly a hard worker. However, his attitude created ongoing tensions within the Busch household.

“Initially Michael and Ian had been great mates,” O’Connor noted, “but the relationship had grown increasingly strained.”

By June 1989, the domestic situation had deteriorated significantly. During a heated argument, Mel Busch accused her husband Michael of having an inappropriate relationship with Silby.

The argument led to both Michael and Silby temporarily moving out and sharing a room at the Martinborough Hotel for a week. It was during this period that a crucial incident occurred. While drinking with friends, they decided to “make Ian a man” by arranging for him to sleep with a woman. When Silby passed out drunk afterwards, Michael played what he called a prank, rubbing toothpaste on the teenager’s genitals. When Silby woke up, he was humiliated and angry. According to O’Connor, he called Michael a “homo.”

By August, Silby was asked to leave the Busch home and moved in with Noel Hayes, a young father and acquaintance of Michael’s. However, Michael continued visiting the Hayes property, leading to frequent arguments between the two men. Hayes accused Michael of mistreating Silby, which resulted in physical fights. Hayes alleged that on one occasion, Michael pulled clumps of hair out of his head.

According to police records, in late 1989, Silby disclosed to Hayes that he had been sexually abused by both his former Auckland school principal and Michael. Hayes contacted the Social Welfare Department to report the allegations.

However, O’Connor maintained a different view of the relationship.

“All the other detectives at the time thought he had been abusing Ian, but after spending time with Michael, that wasn’t my gut feeling.”

He believed that the allegations might have stemmed from the toothpaste incident earlier that year.

The following day, Silby told two Martinborough locals to expect “disturbing news.” When word reached Michael, he confronted Silby at the vineyard. According to Michael, Silby responded,

“I’m going to social welfare about guys like you.”

On the evening of the shooting, Michael Busch armed himself with a double-barrelled shotgun and 18 rounds of ammunition. He later told police he had intended to talk to Silby and had only brought the weapon as he was “bad at fighting.”

Arriving at the Hayes property on his motorcycle, Michael entered the house and confronted Hayes. “Hayes, you’re a shit stirrer,” He said, before opening fire.

Hayes was wounded in the shoulder while attempting to escape through a bedroom window, then shot again in the thigh. Despite his injuries, Hayes managed to reach safety under the house.

It was then that Michael saw Silby on the veranda. He fired at the teenager, who ran inside and barricaded himself in the bathroom. Michael shot through the door, then entered to find Ian on the floor.

According to Michael’s later confession, Silby pleaded for his life. Michael responded, “It’s too fucking late now,” and fired three more shots, killing the 14-year-old.

The shooting was witnessed by an Australian woman living across the road, and police quickly identified Michael Busch as the suspect. He had been driving around town on his motorcycle in the aftermath of the shooting.

After two days of searching, during which helicopters scoured the area, Michael abandoned his motorcycle by a river and hid in an empty house. He eventually contacted his father and arranged to surrender, requesting that Detective Greg O’Connor handle his arrest.

Michael Busch walked into the Martinborough police station carrying his shotgun, which he immediately surrendered. When O’Connor asked why he decided to turn himself in, Michael said,

“I saw the helicopters flying overhead, and I thought ‘This country can’t afford to have helicopters flying around looking for me.’”

Without requesting legal representation, he provided a full confession to O’Connor.

“Take me out back and hang me,” he told the detective after detailing his crimes.

Michael Busch pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Ian Silby, and a further ten years for the attempted murder of Noel Hayes.

In December 2013, Michael Busch, 56, was granted parole, but he was banned from entering the Wairarapa district. O’Connor supported Busch’s parole application, believing that sufficient time had been served. However, Michael was later recalled to prison for breaching parole conditions.