Whakatāne murder trial: Jury returns verdict in case of Dallas Hohua over Lani Paul's death

Dallas Fraser Hohua has been found guilty of Lani Paul's manslaughter. Photo / NZME

A jury has found Dallas Fraser Hohua guilty of manslaughter but not guilty of Lani Paul's murder in Whakatāne last year.

The jury in the High Court at Rotorua returned its verdict about 8pm on Friday after deliberating since around midday that day.

Hohua, 57, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Paul, 29, from Whakatāne on October 23 last year.

Hohua stabbed Paul with a knife through his heart after a fight broke out at a party at Hohua's house on Hotene St. Hohua was trying to get everyone to leave when Paul and others returned. Paul then challenged Hohua to a one-on-one fight.

The Crown said Hohua stepped forward to stab Paul, who was armed with a fence paling, with the intent to kill him and he did it without warning and with such force that he was therefore guilty of murder.

The Crown said he wasn't acting in self-defence as he could have gone inside and called the police.

However, the defence said Hohua was trying to protect his loved ones and his home and if he didn't defend himself he would have been dead as Paul was fuelled up on methamphetamine and was out to kill him.

It was the defence case that it wasn't murder as he had to defend himself against gangs of men like this.

Paul was taken to Whakatāne Hospital about 11.50pm on the night he was stabbed and died just after 11.20am the next day.

Hohua was represented by John Munro and Ben Smith appeared for the Crown.

Justice Matthew Muir remanded Hohua in custody to reappear for sentencing at 10am on November 26.