Victim gave $25,000 to accused

Feilding man Dean Mulligan is on trial for the murder of 45-year-old Marice McGregor last year. Photo / Wanganui Chronicle/Stuart Munro

The man facing trial for killing Marice McGregor in April last year says he wasn't relying on her for money.

Dean Mulligan has been under cross examination in the High Court in Whanganui for the murder.

He says he wasn't relying on Ms McGregor for money, even though his business cash book recorded no cash sales in an 18-month period. During that time, she gave him around $25,000 for operations and for him to give his ex-wife.

Mulligan says while she lent him money sometimes, he didn't ask for it and his business was making sales.

He says Ms McGregor emailed him a will in January 2010 leaving him property, which he informed his brother and police about.

However he told the court today he told Ms McGregor he didn't want the house, and didn't believe the will was real.

Mulligan also wrote a suicide note before deciding to hand himself into police.

Dean Mulligan, who was under cross examination in the High Court in Whanganui, also wrote to his wife laying out his affair with Ms McGregor.

He said he was scared to end things because she threatened to tell authorities he had raped his ex-wife. However he left out the claims he now makes that Ms McGregor and two other men were physically forcing him into the affair.

He also didn't identify the man he says actually did kill Ms McGregor. Mulligan says he didn't want his wife to know about it the physical threats, but felt he had to tell her in a later letter.

The jury in the trial is also hearing evidence from three men who say they were also internet friends with the deceased.

The police officer in charge of the case read statements from three men who say they also met Ms McGregor online and had sexual relationships with her.

Ms McGregor and Mulligan met on an internet dating site in 2008 and had an intimate affair.

One of the men told police he thought Ms McGregor was too trusting and would meet up with anyone and he had concerns for her safety.

- Newstalk ZB