KEY POINTS:
When Michael Wallace stopped to pick up Birgit Brauer, he was driving a stolen Toyota Hilux Surf that belonged to his former boss, Himatangi businessman Brent Cleverley.
Wallace had chopped firewood for Cleverley for about four months and used the car for work. He was a trusted employee and had about $10,000 worth of tools in the Hilux.
But on August 15 Wallace failed to show for work. He sent his boss text messages saying he would return the ute but never did. Cleverley reported the Hilux stolen on August 26.
The day before that report was filed, police pulled the Hilux over at a road block near Raglan. Wallace, who was wanted by police for failing to appear in the Blenheim District Court on a drink driving charge in May, gave his brother's name and was let go.
The drink driving charge was not the first time Wallace had been in trouble with the police.
In April 1983, the then 22-year-old forced his way into a Palmerston North home, attacked a man and locked him in the closet before twice raping his wife. He was sentenced in 1984 to five years' imprisonment.
He was in trouble again by the early 1990s. In 1991 he received two-and-a-half years' imprisonment for the aggravated robbery of a Palmerston North dairy. After the robbery, in which he threatened the owner with a firearm, he took to the bush but was later caught by police.
During the late 90s Wallace kept a low profile. By 2000, he was living in Kaikoura, staying at the Takahanga Marae where he was a trusted caretaker and general labourer. While he was "a bit rough around the edges", Wallace was helpful, said Brett Cowan from the marae.
"He was trustworthy, we didn't have a problem with his character. He seemed to be social and got on well with most people. He was a little bit rough around the edges but I suppose most labourers are."
Ned Manawatu also knew Wallace well and had a room next to him at the marae. They also enjoyed a drink together at the local and played games of pool.
"He was an easy-going guy. He socialised quite a lot. He was well liked by people of this town."
But after about six years on the marae, Wallace, who was known as "Mike" to some and "Ropey" to others because of his long dreadlocks, started to change. "He was hitting the drink more and his work had started being affected."
One day, Wallace accompanied Manawatu to another marae to help with some chores but he left after a day to spend the rest of the week fishing.
Disappointed, Manawatu confronted Wallace. The next morning he was gone. There was no note, no explanation. "There was no nothing. He had tidied up his room and gone."
So started Wallace's decline into the drifting which led him north and on to a collision course with Brauer.
After leaving Kaikoura, Wallace went bush for a couple of months then headed to Seddon, where he worked as a supervisor in a vineyard.
"He was a rough diamond but he didn't come across to me as someone who could do that [murder]. You never know someone that well, but I was honestly surprised," said vineyard owner James Cameron.
Cameron remembered Wallace as a strict supervisor who could come down hard on his staff but always got the job done.
He showed initiative but before long he was on the move again, leaving behind a charge of drink driving which was still before the courts.
From there his drinking continued to cause problems. He was also taking drugs.
In the weeks before he picked up Brauer he was on a heavy cocktail of alcohol and drugs.
By the time police caught up with Wallace, following a three-week manhunt, he claimed he had taken so many drugs he couldn't remember what had happened.
He said he had also tried to commit suicide several times and told police he wished they had shot him dead when they finally caught him after a short pursuit through Tangimoana.
When caught, Wallace had scruffy hair and a beard. He looked a dangerous man.
During his depositions hearing seven months later, he wore an old green tracksuit with a tear in the shoulder, and Jandals. He was heavily tattooed and bearded.
But this month, as he sat through his trial he looked like a different man. Wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a tweed jacket that covered most of his tattoos, he almost looked like a professor. His thick dark black hair, slightly greying on top, was neat, he was cleanly shaven and paid attention to what was happening.
But the jury were unconvinced by his display of convention. It took just four-and-a-half hours to return a guilty plea.
Now Michael Wallace awaits his sentence.
