Friends of a man apparently shot dead by his eight-year-old son denied today that the boy had been abused by his father.

A boy of eight is due in an American court today accused of murdering his father and another man.

A MAN who police believe was shot and killed by his eight-year-old son had consulted a Roman Catholic priest about whether the boy should handle guns and had taught him how to use a rifle, the clergyman said.

An eight-year-boy is accused of fatally shooting his father and another man in eastern Arizona.