KEY POINTS:
The cannibalism issue remained unresolved after the second of two men was last night found guilty of the brutal slaying of a gay Palmerston North man.
Evidence given during the trial indicated Stanley Waipouri, 39, had been a victim of cannibalism.
A well-known member of the gay community, Mr Waipouri was found dead, naked from the waist down, in his Palmerston North flat on December 22, 2006.
He died from head and neck injuries after being kicked, punched and stomped to death for over an hour.
The tip of his penis and an earlobe were also missing.
The High Court in Palmerston North heard that despite an extensive search of the property, the missing body parts were never discovered.
Police arrived to find Andre Gilling, 18, and Ashley Arnopp, 21, still in Mr Waipouri's blood-stained flat.
Arnopp had blood around his mouth and his saliva was found on Mr Waipouri's nipples, the Manawatu Standard reported.
Gilling's saliva was also found on Mr Waipouri's stomach.
The court was told the mutilation of Mr Waipouri's penis had been carried out after his death but further explanation was never offered as it had no bearing on the murder charges sought by the Crown.
The pair appeared in the High Court in Palmerston North in December last year for Mr Waipouri's murder,
Arnopp pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment with 15 years non-parole, but the jury returned a hung verdict on Gilling who denied the killing.
His retrial began last week with a jury last night taking 11 hours to reach a guilty verdict.
As the jury deliberated, Mr Waipouri's former partner Phil Penwarden told the Manawatu Standard the notion that he had been subjected to a cannibalistic attack was difficult to cope with.
"Just the level of hatred that Stan suffered. The charge was murder, but he was literally tortured and mutilated in such a fierce and hateful attack.
"This aspect of cannibalism, what's New Zealand doing bringing up these young people who are given licence for such sadistic acts? Animals don't even do that kind of thing to each other, only humans are capable of that."
The court was told Arnopp and Gilling had difficult upbringings with no knowledge of their fathers.
Arnopp's mother committed suicide the day before his ninth birthday and he spent much of his childhood moving between different foster homes and schools.
At Arnopp's sentencing the judge referred to a psychiatrist's report which indicated he may have been out of control due to his traumatic past and subsequent substance abuse.
"This suggests that you were not fully aware of the level of brutality involved in your actions," the judge said.
Gilling will reappear for sentencing on September 12.
- NZPA
