Depositions hearing begins for David McNee killing

4.50pm


Celebrity interior designer David McNee was killed by a man he was in the same bar with shortly before his death, an Auckland court was told today.

Phillip Layton Edwards, 23, unemployed, formerly of Hawke's Bay, is charged with murdering Mr McNee in his central Auckland home in July.

Prosecutor Steven Haszard told a depositions hearing that Mr McNee was in a Karangahape Rd bar about 10.00pm on July 20.

He said Edwards and two associates were also in the bar.

Mr McNee and Edwards did not speak to each other at the time and a few minutes later Edwards left to go along Karangahape Rd to a Burger King fast food outlet.

Mr Haszard said Mr McNee left the bar a short time later and drove along the road in his black Audi sports car.

He said Mr McNee stopped his car and Edwards ran up and asked him to take him to Burger King.

Mr McNee agreed and Edwards got into the car, but instead of going to Burger King the two men went back to McNee's house in inner city St Mary's bay.

In the house, Edwards began to assault Mr McNee in what Mr Haszard submitted was "a frenzied attack".

"Mr McNee was punched a large number of times about the head," he said. "As a result of the trauma, Mr McNee died."

Mr Haszard said Edwards covered up the body and had a shower in Mr McNee's ensuite bathroom.

Edwards then went about the house taking various items, including clothing, alcohol, and credit cards.

He also took Mr McNee's car keys and took the car and the items to a place in central Auckland where he was sleeping at the time.

The clothes with blood on them were disposed of.

The other clothing was kept and worn. For the next day or so, Edwards drove around Auckland in Mr McNee's car.

Mr Haszard said the court would hear an interview with police in which Edwards admitted killing Mr McNee.

The depositions hearing is due to take three days with up to 10 witnesses being called and an additional 81 briefs of evidence being handed out.

Mr McNee's body was discovered on July 22. The following week Edwards was arrested and charged with murder.

- NZPA