Burton used steel rod to stab inmate's heart, court told

Graeme Burton used a sharpened stainless steel rod to stab an Auckland Prison inmate three times in the heart, the High Court at Auckland has heard.

Jurors considering an attempted murder charge against Burton have been told they will see video evidence of the accused attacking an inmate in prison.

Burton is facing a charge of attempting to murder Dwayne Marsh at Auckland Prison at Paremoremo.

Crown prosecutor Deb Bell said Burton had a weapon in each hand as he entered Marsh's cell on December 20 last year.

Ms Bell said he then went up and down a landing area at the prison four times pursuing Marsh, who was backing away.

She said Burton stabbed Marsh seven times, three times in the heart, with a stainless steel rod which was sharpened at one end.

Ms Bell said the victim would not be giving evidence, and neither would other inmates.

However, she told the jury of seven men and five women that they would see security camera footage of the attack.

Ms Bell told jurors the main issue for them would be whether Burton intended to kill Marsh.

"The crown says stabbing a man at least seven times, three of them in the chest and heart area, is certainly indicative of someone intending to kill someone else," she said.

Justice Tony Randerson told jurors prior to Ms Bell's address that they needed to keep an open mind and consider the evidence fairly and dispassionately.

Justice Randerson made a number of suppressions including that no historical photos of the accused be published.

- NZPA