Accused admitted strangling ex-partner, court told

A former partner of sex worker Nuttidar Vaikaew told police he strangled her to death three weeks before her body was discovered, a court was told today.

Gordon Hieatt, 47, appeared in Auckland District Court today for a depositions hearing to decide whether he should stand trial for the murder of Ms Vaikaew, known as Sky.

Her decomposing body was found by police at her Western Springs apartment on May 12 this year.

Police prosecutor Rachael Reed said Ms Vaikaew and Hieatt had been in an on-again, off-again relationship until April 2008.

Ms Reed said Ms Vaikaew's body was found as a result of a visit by her landlord Ray Goffen to fix a broken window on May 12.

She said Mr Goffen noticed a bad smell and after knocks on the door were not answered, he decided to enter using a key to fix the window.

He could not see Ms Vaikaew but did see Hieatt, who said he was Ms Vaikaew's boyfriend and she had been sick for a few days.

Mr Goffen was concerned enough to call police, and two constables came to check on Ms Vaikaew's health.

"When asked how she was, the accused said `she's been dead for three to four weeks, we had an argument and I killed her'," Ms Reed said.

A constable found Ms Vaikaew's decomposing body in her bed in the lounge shortly afterwards.

Hieatt was taken to a police vehicle shortly afterwards. He told police he strangled her on April 17 after an argument got out of hand.

Nine witnesses are expected to be called at the depositions hearing.

- NZPA