The first day of the trial of the man accused of murdering Connor Morris finished with evidence about one of the parties on the road he died on.
Mr Morris was at his sister's housewarming when he became embroiled in a street fight with people from a 21st birthday party down the road. During the fracas, Michael Murray allegedly murdered Mr Morris by striking him with a large gardening tool, described in court as a sickle.
Yesterday, the jury at the High Court at Auckland heard from Iesha Teiho who lived with her brother, Trevor Morunga, and organised a 21st party for her other brother, Jason, and his girlfriend. She invited a number of people including Murray.
Miss Teiho said later in the night some partygoers started to get aggressive. "I kind of just wanted it to shut down after that," she said.
The Crown allege soon after, Mr Morunga and other partygoers came across a group of men who had come from the housewarming party.
Mr Morunga "kicked out" at a man, sparking an altercation. Someone ran back to get help and Mr Morris arrived to be killed soon after.