Confession claim in Tauranga double killing

Jason Reihana has pleaded not guilty to two charges of murder. Picture / Alan Gibson

A Waikato man allegedly killed his former partner and her new boyfriend because he could not stand her being with someone else, evidence has revealed.

Written depositions evidence released to the Herald alleges that Jason August Reihana admitted stabbing the mother of his two children, Teresa Gunn, 27, and her new partner, Andrew Grabner, 39, in December.

"I killed my kids' mother and the **** she was with but I couldn't kill myself," Reihana allegedly told a detective.

Reihana, 39, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of murder. The depositions released to the Herald show the Crown case but the defence does not present its case until trial later this year.

Reihana was interviewed in Tauranga Hospital the morning after the double killing and allegedly said he did not regret stabbing the pair at Ms Gunn's Greerton home.

"I killed them and I don't regret it ... I couldn't handle the loneliness and I didn't want her to be with nobody else," he was quoted as telling a detective.

He is also alleged to have stabbed his former brother-in-law, Wiki Ngarimu.

Police were called to Ms Gunn's Mansels Rd home by Mr Ngarimu and Ms Gunn's sister, Miriama Kohu, who also lived there.

Ms Kohu's evidence reveals that Ms Gunn saw a lawyer about getting a protection order against Reihana just five days before she died.

Ms Kohu said Ms Gunn and Reihana were together a few years but had a "stormy relationship" and split up.

"It was obvious to me that Jason couldn't handle the fact that the relationship was over," Ms Kohu said.

She and Mr Ngarimu were sleeping in a room with their 19-month-old daughter when Reihana allegedly broke down the door, armed with a knife with a 30cm blade.

Reihana allegedly stabbed Mr Ngarimu after yells were heard from Ms Gunn and Mr Grabner.

The pair met only about a month before they died.

His body was found on the ground at a property across the street.

Ms Gunn was discovered dead in her backyard.

The evidence said an agitated Reihana was lying near her, covered in blood.

According to a police dog handler, he was stabbing himself in the chest and only stopped when the dog handler directed his dog to bite Reihana's arm.

Reihana reportedly remained on the ground, alternating between telling Ms Gunn he loved her and abusing her.

A constable said at one point Reihana looked up and spat in Ms Gunn's face.

Reihana allegedly threatened to kill ambulance, police and hospital staff and had to be handcuffed to a hospital gurney.