Murder accused on 'P', says Crown

Bhagubhai Vaghela

Shop worker Bhagubhai Vaghela was executed at point-blank range by a P-crazed addict, according to court papers.

The man accused of killing him is described as having a heavy P addiction, smoking methamphetamine "like he smokes cigarettes".

James Junior Lawrie, 25, unemployed of West Auckland, made a second appearance in the Auckland District Court yesterday charged with Mr Vaghela's murder on June 19.

Lawrie, represented by Auckland lawyer Roger Chambers, also faces five aggravated robbery charges and one of wounding with intent.

Judge Cecilie Rushton remanded him in custody until his next hearing next month.

The prosecution was represented by Auckland's chief prosecutor, Crown Solicitor Simon Moore.

According to papers prepared by the police for the court hearings, the shooting of 58-year-old Mr Vaghela was the culmination of a two-week crimewave by Lawrie, characterised by escalating P-fuelled violence.

In the days before the fatal shooting, Lawrie was allegedly involved in the armed robberies of a Chinese emporium, a massage parlour, a liquor store and a cafe.

The police say that on the night Mr Vaghela was killed, Lawrie was armed with the same pistol he had used in the earlier robberies when he went into the Uptown Mini Mart in New North Rd around 9 o'clock demanding cash.

Mr Vaghela began following his instructions but also screamed and tried to hit a panic button to raise the alarm. Lawrie then allegedly went around the counter and shot him at point-blank range in the chest.

Lawrie fled, but had time to steal some phone cards from behind the counter before leaving.

Mr Vaghela died a short time later.

Police searched Lawrie's home two days after the killing, allegedly finding property stolen in earlier robberies. Lawrie knew the police were after him and spent five days sleeping rough in a friend's garage to avoid arrest.

He was said to have been using crystallised methamphetamine, also known as P, almost continually for two months. According to the court papers, he "smokes P like he smokes cigarettes" and had had little sleep over the previous eight weeks.

He was said to have carried out his robbery spree to pay for a drug that required huge sums of ready cash to sustain an addiction.

Police say that the killing was the culmination of an escalating level of offending.

His first target was allegedly a Chinese emporium in Glendene on June 9, when one of the robbery victims was beaten around the head.

The next day it was a massage parlour in Auckland's Beach Rd where Lawrie allegedly fired into a computer and punched a victim about the head.

The following day he is alleged to have gone with an associate into a wine merchants in Henderson where two staff and three customers were held at gunpoint.

Lawrie allegedly dealt a beating to one of the customers, who suffered serious injuries. Lawrie and his associate were said to have kicked the customer about the head and body as he lay on the floor.

The day before the fatal shooting, Lawrie allegedly robbed a cafe in Dominion Rd, Balmoral, herding customers into a corner and demanding cash. Police say he tried to shoot at the fridge, but his gun failed to fire.

Others are being sought in relation to the robberies.

At yesterday's hearing Mr Chambers consented to a remand in custody.

Judge Rushton ordered a young woman who was trying to attract Lawrie's attention as he stood in the dock to leave the court.

The woman called out: "Love you, baby."

Lawrie replied: "Love you."

The prosecution says James Junior Lawrie's drug-fuelled robberies included:

June 9: A Chinese emporium in Glendene.

June 10: A massage parlour in Auckland's Beach Rd

June 11: A wine merchants in Henderson.

June 18: A cafe in Dominion Rd, Balmoral.

June 19: A superette in Eden Tce, where he murdered shop worker Bhagubhai Vaghela.