Jury retires in 'vigilante' murder trial

Featherston man Glen Jones.

A High Court jury has retired to consider whether a verdict of murder should be reached over the killing of Wairarapa man Glen Jones.

Four people - Tariana Jones, 33, Kristofer Jones, 23, Matthew McKinney, 29, Hayden Ranson, 28 - are accused of murdering the 40-year-old supermarket worker at his Featherston flat last January.

The Crown's case is that Mr Jones was attacked by the four defendants charged with murder, while Toni Miller, 23 waited on the street.

Miller, who is also on trial at the High Court in Wellington, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of aggravated burglary with a wooden bat and axe handle.

Crown prosecutor Grant Burston submitted that the ``vigilante attack'' on Mr Jones was in retaliation to an allegation of rape made against him by someone known to the group.

It was found Mr Jones died from head injuries inflicted in the attack on January 11 last year.

In summing up today, Justice Alan MacKenzie told the jury of five men and six women to consider the verdict of each defendant without prejudice.

He reminded them any evidence given by the defendants is only admissible in their own cases, and cannot be applied to forming a verdict in the case of one of their co-accused.

While all five defendants were facing charges, each charge for each defendant had to be considered independently, Justice MacKenzie said.

For a guilty verdict on any charge, the jury must be sure the Crown had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, he said.

Earlier today, Steve Winter, lawyer for Ranson said his client - who had already pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated burglary with a wooden bat and axe handle - was guilty of manslaughter not murder.

He was an outsider in the group and there is no evidence showing he had any link to the rape complainant, Mr Winter said.

"He has no particular interest in her, at the highest he is someone that is close to one or two of his friends.

"Putting that all into context, is it likely that he is the person to go feral in that flat?,'' he put to the jury.

Ranson had admitted he "had a tab to pick up for his behaviour'' in Featherston, but he did not embark on the trip to Featherston from Masterton, or enter into Mr Jones' flat knowing he or one of his co-accused would deliver the fatal blows to Mr Jones, Mr Winter said.

He was guilty of manslaughter, not murder, he said.

Mike Antunovic, lawyer for McKinney - who has also pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated burglary with a wooden bat and axe handle - said his client was also guilty of manslaughter as the Crown had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt he had personal knowledge of the probability of murder occurring.

Tariana Jones and Kristofer Jones have pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Paul Paino, Kristofer Jones' lawyer, said in his closing submissions his client never wanted to go to Featherston. The evidence given by two of his co-accused, which placed his client with a weapon at the scene, was also unreliable, Mr Paino said.

Miller's lawyer, Louise Elder, said the evidence showed her client was bored and detached from the rest of the group, meaning she was unaware of any discussions or plans of an attack on Mr Jones.