KEY POINTS:
Slain Porirua man Fitzgerald Risati was a confident, religious man who was "not aggressive at all", the High Court at Wellington was told today.
Mr Risati was out celebrating his 24th birthday when he was stabbed to death in the early hours of December 8, 2007.
He was waiting for a taxi with friends at the Cannons Creek shopping centre, in Porirua East, when he was stabbed.
Charlie Karaka, 33 and Johnathan Poese, 25, have been charged with Mr Risati's murder.
His partner told the court of a confident, religious man who "loved to sing".
Zarah Reuelu-Smith said she had been living with Mr Risati - known as "Fitz" to his friends and family - for four years.
Through tears, Ms Reuelu-Smith said Mr Risati was a big, solid guy who was "not aggressive at all".
He had been working as a caregiver after completing a diploma in social services and was interested in helping people with mental and physical disabilities, she said.
Mr Risati was having drinks at their home to celebrate his birthday on December 7, Ms Reuelu-Smith said.
It was a boys' night, and she had gone to bed because she had to work early in the morning.
Mr Risati had come in to kiss her goodnight around 1am and told her they were going out.
He told her they would open the present she had got him in the morning.
About 5am police arrived at the door to tell her Mr Risati had died.
Ms Reuelu-Smith said Mr Risati had no involvement with gangs and he did not know anyone personally who was involved in gangs.
She said Mr Risati was not an instigator but would stand up if anyone he knew was in trouble.
The forensic pathologist who carried out the post mortem said Mr Risati had died from a single stab wound to the heart.
Earlier the Crown told the court Karaka had gone looking for revenge after his Mongrel Mob gang patch was taken from him and that Mr Risati and his friends were innocent victims.
Karaka and Poesi have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Risati.
Karaka denies a charge of wounding with reckless disregard for the safety of Mr Risati's brother, while Poese denies the charge of wounding with reckless disregard for the safety of Levine Levave.
The trial is set down for two weeks.
- NZPA
