Murder accused says it was manslaughter

A man on trial for murder in Northland claims it was manslaughter. File photo

A Northland beneficiary accused of running his partner over twice with a car has elected to give evidence and to call witnesses to prove what happened was manslaughter instead of murder.

The Crown closed its case against Viliami Fungavaka in the High Court at Whangarei yesterday afternoon - nearly six weeks after his jury trial started.

The 47-year-old is facing a charge of murder after he allegedly ran over his partner and mother of two Georgina Manuel during a roadside argument on Pukepoto Rd in Kaitaia on the night of August 20, 2013.

At the end of the Crown case about 3.30pm yesterday, Fungavaka's lawyer Gregory Bradford told the jury his client had maintained throughout the trial that what happened on the "dark and sad" night of August 20, 2013 on Pukepoto Rd was an accident.

Therefore, he said it was manslaughter at worst instead of murder as the Crown alleged.

"The problem here is Murphy's Law. In the absence of CCTV footage, we've got to do the best we can," he said.

Mr Bradford said Fungavaka told police in his first interview after being arrested that when he started his car on Pukepoto Rd that night, Ms Manuel came across the vehicle and he thought he bumped her leg.

The defence will also call a private investigator and Detective Sergeant Trevor Beatson to give evidence.

Fungavaka took the witness stand yesterday and told the jury he met Ms Manuel in a pub in Kaitaia abut a year after moving to the town and they were in a relationship for 18 months.

He admitted he had three previous convictions, including one for drink-driving and another for common assault for which he was convicted and discharged.

When asked about his relationship with Ms Manuel, he said it went "very well."

Fungavaka said before they got together, he told her to stop certain things that she did in life. When asked to elaborate, he said he asked her to stop taking drugs. His evidence continues today.

Fungavaka has been in custody since he handed himself in at Whangarei Police station on August 21, 2013.