WHANGAREI - The macabre tape-recorded shooting of a Northland farm worker last May was an execution by a teenager without remorse, a Whangarei jury has heard.
Closing the crown case against Kerry Anthony Johansen, prosecutor Phil Smith told jurors in the High Court at Whangarei they might wonder how the then 16-year-old could be capable of such an act.
However, they had to put those feelings aside and judge the case on the cold facts.
The Crown argued that Johansen had murdered Steven Douglas Mitchell, aged 34, who was shot in the head and died almost instantly at his Hukerenui home on May 10.
Mr Smith said Johansen had fired the gun and "snuffed out" Mr Mitchell in a deliberate execution.
Johansen had earlier talked into a dictaphone about killing Mr Mitchell, and afterwards stole his car.
"What motivates a person to record such things? I don't know ... but it's macabre and frightening that someone would talk on a tape like that."
Mr Smith said he could think of no clearer statement of intent. Johansen afterwards "calmly" went on to borrow petrol and plan a robbery with acquaintances.
As police captured Johansen he had tried to get to the car boot where guns were stashed, he said.
The defence, which called no witnesses, argued that the shooting was accidental. Lawyer Arthur Fairley said the key point was the oversized gloves Johansen told police he was wearing when the gun went off.
On a police video Johansen said he had tried to pull his hand out of the glove but it caught on the trigger.
Mr Fairley said the jury would have to be sure of Johansen's intent when the trigger was pulled. Gloves were found in the stolen car but were not produced as an exhibit.
Johansen's behaviour had been unforgivable, with his "hooning around and high-speed chases." But he was guilty only of manslaughter, not murder, said Mr Fairley.
He advised the jury, when considering Johansen's statements to the police, to think of how the mind of a 16-year-old worked.
Johansen had said he was making the tape to show his brother he could steal a car, said Mr Fairley.
"They [the Crown] can ... point to boasting to his brother he was going to kill ... but you must look deeper than that."
Justice Baragwanath will sum up today.
Taped shooting by teenager 'an execution'
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