Jury fails to reach verdict in South Auckland murder trial

A jury trying to decide if a man was guilty of murder or manslaughter has been discharged after they told a High Court judge they could not reach a verdict.

Almost 24 hours after they retired to consider their verdict, the jury returned to the High Court in Auckland today and said they were unable to decide if Marlan Tuporo was guilty of murder.

Tuporo, unemployed from Otara, was charged with murdering Iulio Naea, 38, also from Otara, south Auckland, in October last year.

The jury was discharged and Justice Helen Winkelmann said a date for a new trial would be set next week.

The body of Mr Naea was found in Toporo's lounge with a knife in his chest after a gang confrontation in Otara.

Tuporo was alleged to have smashed a pipe wrench into the victim's face and stabbed him 18 times.

The trial heard Tuporo was provoked after a brawl between rival street gangs and because of that was not guilty of murder, even though he took responsibility for the death of Mr Naea.

- NZPA