A Northland plasterer accused of murdering a Kaitaia mother of two wants to tell the court his side of the story.
Viliami One Fungavaka, 45, of Kaitaia is facing one charge of murder and appeared in the Whangarei District Court yesterday.
He appeared calm and composed while defence lawyer Kahungunu Barron-Afeaki told the court his client would plead not guilty and did not want name suppression.
"There are no issues with name suppression because he wants to have his story told," the senior counsel told Judge Duncan Harvey.
Georgina Manuel, 28, was struck by a vehicle on Pukepoto Rd in Kaitaia on Tuesday and died in Whangarei Hospital at 5 o'clock the next morning.