A High Court trial at Napier in which a man is charged with murdering his new neighbour 17 months ago has been deemed a mistrial without any evidence being given.
The decision was made late today on the second day of a scheduled two-week trial of Zion Hiona King, 48, charged with murdering Chattrice Maihi-Carrol in the Napier suburb of Onekawa.
Ms Maihi-Carrol (otherwise known as Chattrice Carrol Poipoi and Iraia Iris Poipoi), was 46 when she died last January.
Justice Denis Clifford suppressed reasons for the mistrial and ordered a new trial to start with a new jury tomorrow.
A jury of eight men and four women had been empanelled after King pleaded not guilty yesterday morning.
The jury was stood down for the rest of that day, and again today after hearing opening addresses from crown prosecutor Russell Collins and defence counsel Peter Williams QC.
The Crown alleged Ms Maihi-Carrol died on January 19 last year, but her body was not found until two days later, with five stab wounds to her chest and one to the abdomen.
King, at the time a new neighbour in a block of four units in Cottrell Crescent, Onekawa South, was charged with murder more than two months after the death.
- NZPA
Napier High Court murder trial declared mistrial
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