KEY POINTS:
Murder accused Michael Scott Wallace told police he would rather die than hurt people and he had tried to end things, a court was told today.
Wallace, 46, is on trial in the High Court at New Plymouth for the murder of German backpacker 28-year-old Birgit Brauer, whose beaten and stabbed body was found at Lucy's Gully, near Oakura, southwest of New Plymouth on September 20, 2005.
Detective Ross Wright of New Plymouth CIB told the court he was present when Wallace was interviewed by police on October 8 2005, after his arrest.
Wallace described the previous two weeks as "really bad".
Wallace said "I didn't want to hurt people, but I did".
He said he had"screwed up" up two months earlier by smashing something sacred in his care.
Wallace said he did not want to muck police around but did not know what had happened.
"I don't know what is real and what isn't", he said.
Wallace said he'd rather die than hurt someone and had tried to end things in his own way four times.
The case is proceeding with the prosecution calling one more witness.
The final Crown witness told police of an exchange she had with Wallace during a cigarette break while he was being questioned about Ms Brauer's murder.
Detective Sergeant Rona Gower had been questioning Wallace at Levin police station after his arrest on October 8.
About 1am on October 9 he had a cigarette before being placed in the cells. While smoking he asked her whether they had found his boots at the Ohau River.
The Toyota Hilux Wallace had been driving, and that the Crown said he picked up Ms Brauer in before killing her at Lucy's Gully, was recovered from the river on September 28.
Ms Gower said she told Wallace they had found boots and had wondered if they were his. He then asked if they found the machete.
She said no, then asked "was that what you used on Birgit?".
She said Wallace replied "no, it wasn't that".
When cross-examining Ms Gower defence lawyer Susan Hughes QC said the police officer had been working all day, it was late, she was alone with Wallace at the time, did not record the conversation until afterwards and questioned her memory.
Ms Gower said she recorded the conversation shortly after, when Wallace had finished his cigarette, and she was sure those were the words he used.
"There are some things you just don't forget."
Ms Hughes said what Wallace actually said was "no, it wasn't me".
"He did not say that," Ms Gower replied.
The Crown has now completed its case.
Ms Hughes said the defence would call evidence and open their case this afternoon.
- NZPA
