Man admits playing down his part in violent attack

A witness at the murder trial of a Napier man has acknowledged his part in the violent lead-up to the event. File photo / NZ Herald

A witness at the murder trial of a Napier man has acknowledged his part in the violent lead-up to the death of sickness beneficiary Paul Carrodus.

Aaron Isaac Hudson, 24, told the High Court of Wellington today that he had initially minimised his own part in the attack on the 43-year-old family friend during an alcohol and drug fuelled October 6, 2009.

But late last year he pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

"My family told me just to own up, so I did," Mr Hudson said.

His flatmate Tyson Bennett, 19, has denied murdering Mr Carrodus who had been bunking down in the lounge of the two-bedroom suburban Napier flat Mr Hudson and Bennett shared with their respective girlfriends.

Mr Hudson's partner had given birth to their son in the early hours of that morning. After coming home from the hospital and having a short sleep, Mr Hudson began celebrating with Mr Carrodus.

Later, they were joined by Bennett and others, drinking beer and homebrew vodka, as well as "spotting" cannabis.

Over the next several hours, Mr Carrodus was punched, kicked and stomped on during about eight separate incidents because he was allegedly being annoying and insulting. He was also stabbed.

He died four days later in Hawkes Bay Regional Hospital from blunt force head injury.

Mr Hudson admitted giving Mr Carrodus "a smack" in the jaw for going into his bedroom while he was away for his baby's birth. He also kicked him at one stage "but not that many times".

Bennett's lawyer Russell Fairbrother asked why the jury should believe Mr Hudson's evidence today when he had told so many lies in a number of interviews and statements before eventually pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Mr Hudson: "I wouldn't have a clue."

To Crown prosecutor Brent Stanaway, Mr Hudson acknowledged that his assaults on Mr Carrodus, compared to those inflicted by Bennett, were "just as bad in my eyes. Just hitting him was bad enough".

However, the witness said his role was a lot less "physically".

The trial is scheduled to run into next week.

- NZPA