Man tried to kill pair with car, court hears

File photo / NZ Herald

A Rotorua man told police he was trying to kill two men who were in a car he had just driven into, a jury in the High Court at Rotorua has been told.

Aaron John Peddle, 31, is on trial in the High Court at Rotorua after pleading not guilty to a charge of attempting to murder a long-time family friend, James Sturt, and another man he knew, Scott McGregor.

Peddle has pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of injuring them with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting Mr Sturt with a weapon - a car.

The offending is alleged to have been committed on Easter Monday - April 5 - last year.

Rotorua Crown prosecutor Chris Macklin said the Crown case was that there was an argument between Peddle and Mr Sturt and "bad blood turned to hot blood and then rage". Peddle rammed his car into the car being driven by Mr McGregor and in which Mr Sturt was a passenger. Peddle later told police he had tried to killed the two men and had collided with their car "heaps" of times, Mr Macklin said.

Mr Sturt started giving his evidence yesterday and told the jury he had known Peddle for about 20 years. Mr Sturt said he went with Mr McGregor to the home of Aaron's father. Mr Sturt said he was going to see Aaron to discuss something with him.

"He owed me some money, about $500. I gave it to him before his birthday."

They didn't discuss the money. They later went to a home on Pukehangi Rd, Peddle in his car and Mr Sturt and Mr McGregor in Mr McGregor's car. While there Mr Sturt said he spoke to Peddle about the amount he owed him.

"I just think I said to him what's going on? Give me my money. As I understand it he had some cannabis plots out there ... he was going to remunerate me that way."

When asked by Mr Macklin whether he preferred money or cannabis, Mr Sturt told the jury he preferred money.

Mr Sturt said Peddle told him to go to his place.

"He said 'come to my place and he would fix me up'."

Mr Sturt said Peddle went into the Pukehangi Rd home while Mr Sturt waited for Peddle to go home.

"I assumed he was going to get teed up that night."

Mr Sturt said they followed Peddle home and Peddle did a u-turn and his car hit the driver's side of Mr McGregor's car. Mr Sturt said his head collided with Mr McGregor's and Mr McGregor was knocked unconscious.

The court was told Mr Sturt suffered a cut to the back of his head which required six stitches while Mr McGregor had an injury to a finger.

While being cross-examined by Peddle's lawyer, Paul Mabey QC, Mr Sturt said he had suffered a broken neck during a rugby game in 2009.

A short time later Mr Sturt was excused from further cross-examination until today. Justice Graham Lang told the jury Mr Sturt had surgery on Friday and had asked to be excused so he could rest and was due to return this morning.

Mr Mabey made a brief opening statement on behalf of the defence and said there was two sides to every story.

An issue which was central to what happened would be cannabis and the jury also needed to consider the issue of self-defence.

Peddle had absolutely no intention to kill or harm anyone, Mr Mabey said.

The trial is expected to finish tomorrow or Thursday.