Murder trial abandoned

A man accused of murdering his best friend in Auckland will be re-tried after his trial was cut short today.

Salofa Aiono, 34, was on trial at the High Court in Auckland for murdering 36-year-old Sanele Sanato, who died following an assault at his south Auckland home in February last year.

The jury was due to retire to consider its verdict this week, but it was discharged before prosecutors had finished presenting their case.

The reasons for the abandonment of the trial were suppressed.

Crown prosecutor Christine Gordon told NZPA that a new trial was ordered.

Aiono was remanded in custody and will reappear for a callover at the High Court next week.

Prosecutors had alleged Aiono beat Mr Sanato unconscious before stomping on his head.

Aiono's lawyer Panama Le'au'anae argued during the trial that his client admitted the attack but that he was arguing provocation as a defence, which could reduce the offence from murder to manslaughter.

Provocation as a defence was abolished from New Zealand law last November, but was available in this case because the incident occurred before the law was changed.

- NZPA