Three days after the bodies of Christine and Amber Lundy were found, Mark Lundy told his brother over dinner that he had had "something to celebrate" in Petone on the night of the murders and had bought rum and hired a prostitute.
Craig Lundy told the jury yesterday that the revelation had put a dampener on the evening.
Mark Lundy is on trial in the High Court at Palmerston North for the murders of his wife, Christine, and daughter, Amber, 7.
Craig Lundy said his brother had been very distressed and he and his wife (who has been granted name suppression by Justice Anthony Ellis) took him out for a meal.
The comment was made during dinner.
"The one that came right out of left field was when he told us he had ordered a prostitute in Wellington," Mr Lundy said.
He did not recall how the discussion had arisen - just that his brother was talking about what he had been doing that night.
"He said he had something to celebrate. He had got a bottle of rum, drank half of the bottle and called an escort."
The revelations had disturbed Mr Lundy's wife and, rather than have further drinks after dinner, they went home.
Mr Lundy told defence lawyer Mike Behrens, QC, that he had not questioned his brother about the events of the night.
Mr Behrens: You were flabbergasted?
Mr Lundy: Very much so.
Mr Lundy said he had no doubt his brother and Christine Lundy were a "very loving couple" who "adored Amber, even to the point of spoiling her".
- NZPA
Mark Lundy's brother flabbergasted by escort tale
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