Kevin Thomas Helps was committed for trial at the High Court at Auckland yesterday charged with the murder of prostitute Marlene Kelly in February.
Marlene Kelly died from loss of blood caused by a single stab wound near her heart.
Helps, 37, of Otahuhu, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge at a short depositions hearing in the Manukau District Court. He was remanded in custody.
Evidence in witness statements presented to the court outlined the Crown case against Helps.
Prostitute Jesse Tuhoro, 34, said in one statement that she first met Marlene Kelly, a 40-year-old mother of six, in Karangahape Rd. Marlene Kelly was fine to talk to "when she wasn't sniffing spray paint".
Jesse Tuhoro said that about 1am on February 2, she left home in Otahuhu to work the streets. She saw Marlene Kelly and a friend walking towards her along Mason Ave and talked to them for about 20 minutes.
About 2.30am, Jesse Tuhoro said, she picked up a client. Thirty minutes later he delivered her back to Great South Rd, where she again saw Marlene Kelly.
She also saw a blue hatchback car driven by a person who appeared to be looking for sex.
Jesse Tuhoro said she went to talk to the driver, whoM she identified as Helps, and a dog jumped out of the car.
About 5am the hatchback and its driver were still around and Marlene Kelly indicated she would "do him".
"By this I took it to mean that she would engage in sex with him."
Jesse Tuhoro said a car driven by a Samoan then pulled up and she and the man made an agreement for oral sex for $60. They then drove to a carpark "in the shadows" between Mason Ave and Station Rd.
Less than five minutes later the blue hatchback pulled up behind the car the Samoan and Jesse Tuhoro were in. When the Samoan would not show her the $60 she began to get out and heard Marlene Kelly yelling.
Jesse Tuhoro said she ran over to the blue hatchback and heard Marlene Kelly say: "He's got a knife. I've been stabbed."
Jesse Tuhoro ran back to the Samoan for help but he drove off. She said she then saw that Marlene Kelly had gone limp and she started hitting the accused in the face. Marlene Kelly was pushed from the car.
"She wasn't saying anything or moving. I think she must have died then because she never said anything again and never moved. She was just still."
Panelbeater Russell Spence said he had known Helps for about nine years. Helps worked on and off for Mr Spence.
In early February - "I believe it was a Monday" - Helps arrived at work with bruising on his head and fingernail scratches on his face.
"I think he told us that a flatmate had hit him at a party they had at home."
On March 16, Helps was charged with murder. Detective Fa'amanuia Va'aelua said he asked the accused if he had anything to say. Helps replied: "I didn't do it."
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