Killing of teacher 'calculated'

John Rowe. Photo / Supplied

The killing of retired Opotiki teacher John Rowe by two teenagers was savage and calculated, a jury in the High Court at Rotorua has been told.

On trial are Courtney Pauline Churchward, 18, unemployed, and a 15-year-old girl who have each pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Rowe at Opotiki on November 25 last year.

Opening the Crown's case, Duncan McWilliam said the teenagers had decided to go into "the old man's house" to rob him.

They had gone into his bedroom, where they attacked him with a wooden broom handle and a walking stick.

In an excerpt from a police video interview, Churchward said she stood by Mr Rowe's bed for two minutes "trying to prepare myself".

When she started hitting him he twice tried to get up. She claimed he was still alive when she left the room.

Mr McWilliam said Mr Rowe's battered body was found the next morning by a neighbour.

"The Crown says this attack went far beyond subduing this 78-year-old man," Mr McWilliam said.

The attack had been savage and calculated and it was the Crown's contention that the two had acted jointly with murderous intent, Mr McWilliam said.

Churchward's lawyer, Paul Mabey, QC, said his client did not deny striking Mr Rowe but the case was one of the distinction between murder and manslaughter and whether Churchward had acted with murderous intent.

"That is denied," he said.

The Crown has indicated evidence will be heard from 26 witnesses during the trial.

- NZPA