KEY POINTS:
A Palmerston North man convicted over the brutal murder of Stanley Waipouri will give evidence against a co-accused.
Ashley Arnopp was sentenced in February for his part in the slaying of Mr Waipouri in what was a brutal attack lasting more than an hour on December 22, 2006.
Arnopp pleaded guilty last year but co-accused Andre Gilling, 18, has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty when a fresh trial started in the High Court at Palmerston North yesterday.
The Manawatu Standard reported Crown prosecutor Paul Murray as saying Arnopp was willing to give evidence "but you'll hear, perhaps naturally or understandably, he sought reward for that".
"None has been given, nor will it be."
Mr Murray told the court Gilling, Arnopp and Mr Waipouri had been drinking, smoking cannabis and taking party pills before a "sustained and ferocious" attack on Mr Waipouri at his Rangitikei Street flat.
The 39-year-old victim was found naked from the waist down, with injuries to his head and neck, and various internal injuries. The tip of his penis had been "removed", Mr Murray said.
"You have to consider the state of mind and the intent of the accused...the scene can tell you everything about what happened," Mr Murray said.
Defence lawyer Mike Antunovic told the jury Gilling, who was 17 at the time, was asleep throughout the attack.
Evidence from medical pathologists would play an important part in the trial; which injuries caused Mr Waipouri's death and who inflicted those injuries was crucial to the defence case, Mr Antunovic said.
"Some of the evidence you will see and hear will disturb you...will no doubt cause you to have some strong feelings against the accused," he said.
"Feelings of that kind must be put to one side."
The trial is expected to last seven days.
- NZPA
