Prasad murder: Accused pair pay for matching tattoos

Shivneel Kumar (left) and Bryne Permal flank a security guard in the High Court at Auckland.

Details of accused pair's spending spree revealed.

Two men, accused of burning a 21-year-old to death for his life savings, got tattoos together only days afterwards and were in good spirits, a court has heard.

Shivneel Kumar, 20, and Bryne Permal, 22, are on trial in the High Court at Auckland charged with the murder of Shalvin Prasad, whose charred body was found on a rural South Auckland road on the morning of January 31, 2013.

Former Constable Aaron Lawrence was the first officer on the scene after police were alerted to the "smouldering, smoking" body by a woman walking her dog, just before 7am.

"It was crackling, which tells me the fire was quite recent," Mr Lawrence told the court.
The previous day, the victim withdrew his life savings of $30,050 from a Manukau bank while Kumar waited outside, the Crown says.

Prosecutor Aaron Perkins said after the killing, the pair went on a spending spree with the victim's money and today the High Court at Auckland heard from a tattoo artist who met them on February 2.

Dave Ansted, who worked at Newmarket's Streetwise tattoo parlour, told the court Kumar and Permal were "getting on just fine" when they walked in without an appointment.

"I think they were excited about getting a tattoo . . . there was an element of nervous excitement," he said.

The defendants each opted for "geometric patterns, tribal-type tattoos" on their chest and shoulder area.

Both paid the $350 for their tattoos in cash and he said Permal came back a week later to spend another $400 on having his design extended down his arm.

During cross examination Mr Ansted described Kumar as the leader, while his co-accused was "like 'whatever Shivneel says'".

During his opening, Mr Perkins told the jury Kumar was "the instigator and driving force" behind the alleged crime.

"He considered a sum of money was worth more than Mr Prasad's life," he said.

Muniappa Gounder also served the two men on February 2 while working at Christies Jewellery.

He told the court Kumar bought a sterling silver bracelet and a watch for $590 while Permal splashed out $350 on a silver chain and a watch.

Both paid by eftpos, Mr Gounder said.

The court is expected to hear from other witnesses who served the defendants on the days after the alleged murder.

Police were able to identify the victim only after analysing the fingerprints and pathologists were almost certain the man had been alive when doused in petrol and set alight, Mr Perkins said.

The trial before Justice Geoffrey Venning and a jury of six women and six men is expected to last a month.