Murder accused admits assault

A 25-year-old man on trial for the murder of a 14-year-old in south Auckland has pleaded guilty to a second charge - assault with intent to rob.

Daniel Bobby Tumata, 25, changed his plea this morning, and will be sentenced later.

He is also jointly charged with Nathan Tuiti Reo Mutunga Williams, 25, of murdering 14-year-old John Hapeta on August 12 last year.

Williams and a 17-year-old male, who has name suppression, are also accused of assault, with intent to rob.

The trio appeared in the High Court at Auckland today on the second day of a trial expected to last two weeks.

Mr Hapeta died after two men armed with a gun and a hammer gatecrashed a birthday party at the family home in Weymouth, south of Auckland, the Crown alleges.

The men, dressed in black with bandanas covering their faces, grabbed Mr Hapeta and demanded drugs.

When he said he didn't have any, he was hit on the back of the head with a blunt object.

Barking dogs alerted Mr Hapeta's parents, who were inside the house watching television shortly before their son was hit with a hammer on the back of the head.

By the time police arrived about 9pm, he was dead.

His attackers fled into the darkness, the jury was told.

Mr Hapeta was killed because he had allegedly failed to make payments on an airgun. He had bought the gun from another boy in the neighbourhood, who wanted to be paid for the gun in cannabis.

The Crown is expected to call 30 witnesses during the trial.

- NZPA