Denver Chance murder trial: Blood found on Ruger rifle suppressor, but telescopic sight no use for close-range firing, court told

The Crown alleged this Ruger 10/22 semi-automatic firearm was used to kill Denver Chance. Photo / John Weekes

Investigators used laser beams to determine likely bullet trajectories at murder-accused Jay Lingman's house after Auckland man Denver Chance was killed.

Jurors today were shown the Ruger 10/22 semi-automatic firearm which prosecutors say Lingman used to kill Chance.

Denver Chance died in 2019. Photo / Supplied

Lingman has pleaded not guilty to murder and is on trial at Auckland High Court.

The Crown has claimed Lingman used the Ruger, with a suppressor and telescopic sight attached, to shoot Chance on February 24, 2019.

Angus Newton, an ESR firearms examiner, told jurors a transfer bloodstain was found on the face of the suppressor.

But defence counsel Steven Lack asked Newton if the telescopic sight would provide any benefit to close-range shooting, and Newton said it would not.

Jay Christopher Lingman of Kingseat has pleaded not guilty to murdering Denver Chance. Photo / RNZ

Newton said small deformed pieces of lead and three damaged 0.22 caliber bullets were retrieved from Chance.

The Crown has argued Lingman shot at Chance six times, with four bullets striking him.

The defence previously said the Ruger was loaded because Lingman had been out shooting rabbits at his property near Karaka.

Leah Tottey, ESR senior forensic scientist, attended the crime scene in March 2019.

Tottey today told jurors she saw two circular holes which she opined were bullet holes.

Tottey said she fitted a trajectory rod to the suspected bullet hole and attached a laser.

She said both bullets had upward trajectories, so the shooter would have been aiming up, and standing slightly to the left of Lingman's front door.

Jurors were shown a 3D ballistics flythrough outlining the bullet's likely path.

Forensic pathologist Dr Charles Glenn said Chance suffered three gunshot wounds to his head and one to his right forearm.

Glenn said one of Chance's head injuries was to the left side of his face where a bullet continued through his temple.

On Chance's arm, the bullet went through his arm near the wrist.

No large projectile fragments were recovered from Chance's arm and Glenn said it was likely that bullet fragmented.

The court heard Chance also suffered abrasions and other injuries after his death, possibly from being dragged or when he was placed into a chest freezer.

"The Crown case will be that Denver Chance's body was placed in the freezer approximately 18 hours after death," prosecutor Gareth Kayes said.

Defence counsel Ron Mansfield asked Glenn whether placing a body in a freezer preserved rather than "frustrated" attempts to gather evidence, and the pathologist said it did.

Detective Tess Kai Fong investigated Chance's red Nissan Skyline, and told jurors her colleague brought a drug-detector dog to the car.

Denver Chance's Nissan Skyline, similar to this one, was examined after the homicide. File Photo / TTTNIS

The canine at one point acted in a way indicating a possible historical presence of drugs.

"There was a change of behaviour in his dog when he was sitting near the driver's seat."

But Kai Fong said no drugs were actually found in the Skyline, despite extensive searching.

The defence and Crown have both said Chance was entangled in the illegal drug world, but the extent of that involvement is not agreed.

Jurors have heard Chance kept any involvement in the drug business secret from even some of his closest friends and relatives.

The defence previously said Chance was a cocaine importer, enraged after suspecting his customer Lingman had ripped him off, and Lingman shot him in self-defence.

Chance's flatmate described him as a very placid and agreeable man.

Jurors today heard from Detective Constable Christopher Lindsay, who examined Chance's room in Mairangi Bay.

No firearms or ammunition were found, and the only thing approximating a weapon was a closed flick-knife.

On Chance's bedside table were a dozen hats, and books including Lonely Planet - 1000 Ultimate Adventures.

Lingman last week admitted charges of drug possession for supply but denied murder.

The trial continues.