Man accused of trying to kill dying mother confessed to friend, court told

File photo / NZ Herald

A man accused of attempting to murder his terminally ill mother by administering a fatal dose of morphine told a close friend that he helped her to die, a court heard this morning.

Dr Patricia Davison died in October 25, 2006. Her son Sean Davison is on trial at Dunedin High Court.

Davison's longtime friend Ian Landreth told the jury that on the day Dr Davison died he asked the defendant if he had helped.

Davison said yes, Mr Landreth told the court.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel Roger Laybourn, Mr Landreth said Dr Davison was determined to end her life early and mother and son were so close he did not think Davison would do anything against her will.

Two journalists then gave evidence based on their interviews with Davison about his book on this mother's death, Before We Say Goodbye.

Former Herald on Sunday reporter Nicola Shepheard gave evidence after being summonsed to do so.

She told the court she interviewed Davison about an original manuscript of his book, which she had received anonymously, and which featured passages not printed in the final book.

The passages referred to Davison preparing to give his mother what he calculated would be a lethal drink containing crushed morphine tablets. They said he held it up in front of her and told her if she drank it she would die.

Ms Shepheard told the court Davison verified the manuscript as authentic.

A recording of an interview with him was played in which he said one reason the passages were deleted was the possibility of legal action.

Another journalist, Mary Jane Boland, who was deputy editor of The Listener at the time, said she asked Davison what had been cut from the final version of the book and why.

He said although he was reluctant to leave certain passages out, he agreed to because there was a potential for prosecution.

The trial continues.

- Otago Daily Times