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The man accused of a double murder and aggravated burglary that sparked an armed stand-off in downtown Auckland last year has pleaded guilty to two counts of murder.
Police found the bodies of David Allan Roberts and Deni Rudiantonio with multiple stab wounds in a room on the ground floor of the Alpha Apartments, in Vogel Lane, on July 19 2008.
At the District Court in Auckland today, Baseem Ridha Kadhim Abbad Al Amery, aged 31, admitted to both killings as well as one charge of male assaults female from an incident four days earlier.
He was remanded in custody for sentencing on March 18.
Defence lawyer Charles Cato told the court that Almery had written a letter in Arabic to the victim's families. The letter had yet to be translated.
Armed police were called to the Alpha Apartments after a 111 caller said a man was in the building, threatening to harm himself and others with a knife.
He had been seen on an eleventh-floor balcony holding a knife to his throat and threatening to jump. Dozens of residents were evacuated when officers stormed the 14-storey tower.
- With NZPA