Moses Mahanga murder accused testifies: 'I did not kill my friend'

Michael John Paewhenua has elected to give evidence before a jury and denied killing his friend. Photo/John Stone

A man accused of murder has told a jury he did not kill his friend.

Michael John Paewhenua elected to give evidence in the High Court at Whangarei after the Crown closed its case yesterday morning. He is charged with murdering Moses Noor Mahanga on the night of October 4 last year on William Jones Dr, in Otangarei. Paewhenua, 27, also known as Kaipo, lives in Auckland but said he came to spend a few days in Whangarei on the afternoon of October 2, last year.

While in Whangarei, he picked up Mr Mahanga from a house in Onerahi and both then went around cruising to places such as Towai and Moerewa.

On October 4, he said he received a call from Mr Mahanga and they spoke about what both were up to that day. About 8.40pm, Paewhenua said his friend and another man came to the Kaipo family home on Keyte St in Kensington.

While his front seat passenger was having a cigarette, Paewhenua said he jumped into the car and spoke to Mr Mahanga for about 20 minutes before both men drove away.

Paewhenua said he loaded his belongings in his car and headed to a petrol station in Tikipunga where he realised his cellphone was missing. He then came back to the Keyte St house but could not find it.

The cellphone was recovered from a Mitsubishi Lancer in which Mr Mahanga was shot dead about 10.30pm that night.

He said he then drove back to Auckland as he had an appointment at the Manukau District Court the next morning.

Paewhenua's car drove south through the northern toll gateway at 1.26am on October 5 — three hours after the shooting.

Paewhenua said he did not kill Mr Mahanga who he considered a friend. His lawyer Arthur Fairley told the jury just because Paewhenua chose to give evidence did not mean the onus and standard of proof has shifted from the Crown to the defence.

The lawyers will deliver their closing addresses to the jury this morning before Justice Rebecca Edwards sums up the case tomorrow.