A Pt England man yesterday admitted stabbing a friend and burning the body after the victim threatened his family.
Mark Graeme Burns' incinerated remains were found in the boot of his burned Mitsubishi Diamante in Reliable Way, Penrose, last September.
In the Auckland District Court yesterday, 27-year-old Simon Maurice Latu admitted murdering his 39-year-old friend and setting fire to his car.
Latu, represented by Ron Mansfield, was remanded in custody to the High Court for sentencing in July.
According to a police summary of facts handed to the court by Crown prosecutor Aaron Perkins, Latu decided to murder his friend after Mr Burns threatened his family.
The pair had talked about setting up a secondhand shop. Latu, due to be sentenced for the $68,000 robbery of a Papatoetoe bar, agreed to commit another robbery to get the $25,000 set-up costs.
Mr Burns, who had been treated for psychiatric problems, was to run the business and pay Latu's family a weekly income while Latu was in prison.
But when Mr Burns discovered the cost of establishing the business was $60,000, Latu refused to meet the extra cost, the summary says.
He believed that Mr Burns, of Massey, wanted the extra money to pay off a drug debt and was using him. Latu told Mr Burns the extra expenses were Mr Burns' problem.
But Mr Burns replied: "It's your problem, too, now Simon. You see, I know where you live, I know you've got a son, your wife, you're living with your parents, your sisters."
Latu later told police he decided to kill his friend because of the threats, even though Mr Burns apologised for putting him under pressure over the money.
That afternoon Latu pretended to Mr Burns that he had done a "job" and had the money.
They arranged to meet at Latu's address in Kawiti Ave, Pt England.
When Mr Burns arrived, Latu plunged a large knife 15cm into his chest, put him in the boot of his car and the next day drove to Penrose, where he set the car alight.
The body was charred beyond recognition and dental records were needed to identify Mr Burns.
When interviewed, Latu said his love for his family and son meant more than anything to him, and that Mr Burns should not have made the threats against them.
Outside the court, Detective Senior Sergeant David Pearson said: "Mr Burns paid for a turn of phrase that he should not have used at the time."
Killed for threatening a family
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