Teens spoke of stabbing taxi driver, says witness

A witness says two teenagers spoke of having "stabbed a taxi driver" when they went to a nightclub in central Christchurch after the death of father-of-five Abdulrahman Ikhtiari.

Witness Chris Rahurahu, 17, acknowledged he had been drinking for more than 12 hours before the conversation with the teenagers but said he was not drunk.

He was giving evidence at the depositions hearing where the two teenagers face joint charges of murdering the taxi driver.

All of the Crown's summary of facts presented in its opening statement was suppressed after an application by defence counsel Pip Hall, who appears for the older of the two accused, Randell Legion Wiremu Brown, who turns 20 today.

The other accused cannot be named because he is aged 16 and appears in the Youth Court jurisdiction.

The depositions hearing - a preliminary sitting held before a trial - was before Christchurch District Court Judge John Strettell in the Youth Court.

Crown prosecutor Anne Toohey said the Crown was presenting evidence from 24 witnesses. Nine would give evidence in person, and the others would be handed to the judge in written form. The hearing is expected to take three or four days.

Mr Hall asked for the suppression order because the statement of facts covered matters which would be challenged at pre-trial hearings. The defence was also expected to apply for sections of the evidence to be suppressed during this week's hearing.

The first witness, Mr Rahurahu, told of Brown and the youth leaving a 21st party at a nightclub and returning in the early hours of Saturday, December 6.

He heard them talking when they returned, and they told of having "stabbed a taxi driver".

He asked them: "Why didn't you just run away like normal people? It's the smarter thing to do."

He saw red on Brown's arm. Brown said it was blood.

He later heard Brown tell the youth: "It was lucky I held him like that or you could have stabbed me."

Mr Ikhtiari, a 39-year-old who had come from Afghanistan with his family, was stabbed in his taxi in Worcester St, central Christchurch, early on December 6. He was found dead at the scene.

Mr Hall and Kerry Cook appear for Brown. Elizabeth Bulger appears for the youth.

- NZPA