Murder accused did not know about gun: lawyer

The man police say drove a gang to carry out a robbery at a south Auckland liquor store where owner Navtej Singh was shot dead did not know a loaded rifle had been brought along, his lawyer said today.

Summing up, his lawyer Paul Borich told the High Court trial Tino Faamele Felise had denied driving to the store, but even if he did "that doesn't make him a murderer".

The prosecution have claimed Anitelea Chan-Lee lined up Mr Singh and shot him in the stomach. He died the next day.

Anitilea Chan-Kee, 22, Tino Faamele Felise, 19, Eti Filoa, 25, Walter McCarthy, 19, Myron Robert Felise, 22, and Jason Naseri, 21 are on trial for murdering Mr Singh, and the aggravated robbery of the store.

A seventh man, Mefiposeta Chan-Kee, 26, is charged with being an accessory after the killing.

Mr Borich told the jury they should consider three questions in Tino Felise's case.

They should decide whether or not he drove to the store that night.

If he did drive there, did he know that Anitelea Chan-Kee took a rifle into the store, Mr Borich said.

And if the jury were sure beyond reasonable doubt that he did drive and that he did know a rifle had been taken into the store, did he know it was loaded, he said.

The trial is continuing.

- NZPA