Murder trial under way

Tauranga District Court.

UPDATED 11.45AM: The jury for the trial of three people accused of murdering Takena Tiepa-Ranapia has been selected and given their instructions by the judge.

The Crown is due to make its opening statement at noon.

EARLIER: The trial has started in the High Court of Tauranga today of the three people accused of murdering 19-year-old Takena Tiepa-Ranapia in Ohauiti last year.

Hiakita Eruera, Paul Taki and Hyacin Eruera have denied a joint count of murder relating to the alleged stabbing of Mr Tiepa-Ranapia with a knife.

Mr Tiepa's body was found outside a house in Mansfield St on November 30 last year.

The trio have also denied two further counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and assault with a weapon using a wrench, relating to two other alleged victims.

The jury was being selected this morning for a trial expected to take up to three weeks.