A man in the public gallery was removed from the court after making gestures at murder-accused Wayne Bracken as he was giving evidence in the High Court at Whangarei yesterday.
As the man was escorted out by a security officer, he yelled: "Sorry, judge."
Justice Edwin Wylie had twice warned people in the public gallery not to interrupt the trial and to refrain from making gestures.
After a brief opening address, defence lawyer Johnathon Krebs asked Bracken if he had killed Jack Davis, then asked a series of quick-fire questions covering the allegations made in the trial and charges - and Bracken answered in the negative each time.
After the first question, there was an outburst from a member of the public in the gallery at the back of the courtroom. Justice Wylie stopped proceedings and asked that there be no more interruptions and told the jury of six men and six women to ignore the comments.