“From the house cleaning to having a beautiful place for our son to lie at home for a couple of days, the food, cards, messages, baking, organising everything and everyone, to his final farewell we bless you,” she said.

Jane said the last three weeks had been a haze.

“We have a trial to get through also. So long tough times still ahead, most days are hard to get through and we/ I especially struggle,” she said.

“We are so grateful for friends [sic] family and our community, so blessed. I don’t know all your names.”

Jane earlier described Mabbott as a “ratbag, free-spirited” son.

“Rest in peace and love, our son… Your two sisters, numerous cousins, aunties, uncles, friends and five sons,” she had written on Facebook.

“A needless end to your vibrant, lovable, crazy, ratbag, free-spirited self.”

Edmondson appeared briefly in the High Court at Hamilton on December 17, charged with Mabbott’s murder and the attempted murder of another man who was with Mabbott at the time of the shooting.

He pleaded not guilty to both charges and did not seek name suppression.

Edmondson had become famous in the community for caring for friendly pigs and piglets, with locals and tourists often visiting his property to snap photos of themselves petting the animals.

However, he had also long reported having trouble with people stealing and killing some of them.

Up to 50 pigs he owned have now been moved to a Wellington sanctuary to protect them.

In a social media post, HUHA (Helping You Help Animals) thanked locals who had been supporting the man’s animals.

“They have continued to support their gentle friend, vigilantly caring for his pets.

“Stu’s 50 pet pigs and three dogs are safe and heading back to HUHA.”

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