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What began as "the holiday of a lifetime" for German tourist Birgit Brauer ended with the 28-year-old having her head smashed in, and a knife plunged through her heart, a New Plymouth High Court jury heard today.
Police allege firewood cutter Michael Scott Wallace, of Himatangi near Palmerston North, murdered Miss Brauer after picking her up as she hitchhiked between Wanganui and New Plymouth on September 20, 2005.
"That date brought two people together who were complete strangers to each other," Crown prosecutor Tim Brewer said in his opening address to the jury.
Miss Brauer was a "bright, outgoing, trusting" woman who had been in New Zealand since February 2005, brought here by a love of nature and geography.
Wallace, however, was awol from his job, and "drifting around the country... out of it on drugs a lot of the time", Mr Brewer told the court.
It is alleged Wallace - who is denying the charges - picked up Miss Brauer at Waitotara, north of Wanganui, and drove her to Lucy's Gully, northwest of New Plymouth.
It was there, police allege, that the fatal attack occurred.
"He used significant force and he caused traumatic [head] injuries that would have been fatal," he said.
It is alleged Wallace then dragged her into the bush and stabbed her once through the heart.
The Crown says the attack was sexually motivated, as Miss Brauer's boots had been removed and her pants partially undone.
It is believed that fatal stab wound was inflicted when Wallace was disturbed by a passing vehicle.
Police say that after the killing, Wallace went to Cardiff, near Stratford, and disposed of a rod used to bash Miss Brauer by throwing it in a river.
He is alleged to have then spent time smoking cigarettes and rifling through Miss Brauer's possessions.
Phone records show her mobile phone was dismantled at 5.37pm on September 20.
The bar was later recovered by investigators, and DNA found on it is alleged to be that of Miss Brauer.
Wallace is alleged to have spent days driving around the west coast of the North Island, before abandoning his employer's vehicle - which he had taken in mid August - in the Ohau River, south of Levin, on September 29.
He is alleged to have stolen another vehicle from Levin on October 1.
He managed to evade police for about a week, before being arrested after a high-speed car chase on October 8, 2005.
About 90 witnesses for the prosecution are expected to be heard in the trial, which is expected to run for about four weeks.
