A friend of slain Porirua man Fitzgerald Risati has told how he saw one of the men accused of his murder drop a boning knife as he left the scene of the fatal fight.
The evidence was presented today as the second week of the trial of two men accused
of Mr Risati's murder began in the High Court at Wellington.
Charlie Karaka, 33 and Johnathan Poese, 25, are denying the murder charge after Mr Risati, known as "Fitz", died from a single stab wound to the heart on the morning of December 8, 2007.
Last week the Crown told the court Karaka had gone looking for revenge after his Mongrel Mob gang patch was taken from him and that Mr Risati and his friends were innocent victims.
Crown Prosecutor Grant Burston today questioned Siaosi Miti, who was with Mr Risati on the night. He described how a group of seven of them were at the taxi stand at Cannons Creek and talking to some passing young "Crips", or gang members, when a car drove up.
"A big fat dude" jumped out of the car and approached the young man, asking aggressively if they were members of the crips gang, Mr Miti said.
The young men walked away and the man turned to Mr Risati and asked him if he was also a Crip. He then threw a punch at Mr Risati and a fight started, Mr Miti said.
Mr Miti said he saw another, smaller man, get out of the car with a knife and became involved in the fight.
The fight only lasted a few moments before the two men got back into the car, he said.
The smaller man dropped the knife before the car drove off.
Mr Miti described the knife as a yellow, plastic handled boning knife, such as would be used in a meat works.
A knife fitting the description was produced in court as evidence.
Mr Miti said he picked up the knife and wrapped it in a bandana, so it could have fingerprints taken off it.
He put the knife on a ledge in the taxi stand but could not explain how a police photograph of the scene later showed it on the ground, not wrapped in anything.
Mr Miti said he noticed Mr Risati had been cut in the arm, but did not say he saw anyone stabbed.
Mr Risati was taken to hospital and it was at the police station that Mr Miti was told that Mr Risati had died from his wounds.
The trial continues this week with the defence expected to present its case on Wednesday.
- NZPA
Boning knife dropped after fatal fight - witness
A friend of slain Porirua man Fitzgerald Risati has told how he saw one of the men accused of his murder drop a boning knife as he left the scene of the fatal fight.
The evidence was presented today as the second week of the trial of two men accused
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