KEY POINTS:
The Crown today began outlining its case against a Taupo youth facing a charge of murdering British tourist Karen Aim in Taupo in January.
The 26-year-old was found dying near a Taupo school on January 17 by police who had been called to investigate an early morning vandalism spree at the college.
Crown prosecutor Fletcher Pilditch told Taupo Youth Court that police executed a search warrant at the then 14-year-old youth's home and located a camera similar to Miss Aim's.
In an incinerator they found a black handbag and under the house a baseball bat with blood and glass embedded in it.
Mr Pilditch told the court Miss Aim had been socialising with friends on the evening of the 16th January in Taupo bars.
The last place she was seen was at Element bar. Security footage showed she left there at 1.58am and a few minutes later made a purchase at a BP station.
She then left town to walk to her house in Waikato Street.
At 2.14am there was an alarm activation at Taupo-nui-a-tia College, which had been triggered by smashing of windows.
A security guard notified police who came to the school and began a search of the area, including streets at the back of the school.
Miss Aim's body was found on a corner less than 100m from her flat during the course of that search.
Mr Pilditch said there was "a significant amount of blood around her. Her skirt had been lifted up and her underpants had been torn or ripped".
He said her wallet was found lying on her stomach. She was making some noise but was not responsive to the police officer who found her.
An ambulance was called and she was taken to hospital but died shortly afterwards.
Much of the youth court hearing before Judge Russell Callander was spent dealing with matters relating to media coverage of the depositions hearing.
Around a dozen media are present at the hearing, including photographers and television cameramen.
Photographers have been told they can take photographs in the courtroom but not of the defendant, his family members and some of the witnesses.
The court adjourned at one stage to allow police and defence lawyers to consider what information both parties agreed could be used in a summary of facts to be released this afternoon.
- NZPA
