Dixon to face murder trial

Antonie Ronnie Dixon was committed to the High Court at Auckland for trial yesterday after his lawyer pleaded there was insufficient evidence for him to be tried on charges including murder and attempted murder.

When Justices of the Peace Colin Davis and Mark Sinclair told Dixon at the end of a depositions hearing in the Manukau District Court that he would be tried in the High Court the 35-year-old nodded.

He pleaded not guilty to 10 charges including one that he murdered James Te Aute at Pakuranga on January 22. He faces four charges of attempted murder.

Two of the attempted murder charges relate to Renee Gunbie and Simonne Butler, who the Crown alleges were attacked by Dixon with a samurai sword at Pipiroa on January 21.

Other charges include kidnapping, aggravated burglary and discharging a fully automatic .22 calibre submachine gun with a silencer and laser sight at a police officer.

The justices suppressed much of the evidence yesterday. But in statements not banned from publication and presented to the court, ambulance and medical staff who were first at the scene of the sword attack spoke of treating Ms Gunbie and Ms Butler, who were lying in pools of blood at Ms Butler's Pipiroa barn.

After they prepared the victims for transport to hospital they remembered that Renee Gunbie's severed hand had been left behind and somebody had to retrieve it.

Another statement made by Constable Michael Damian Hayward of an interview with Dixon after his arrest quoted him as saying: "I cut those two bitches up."

Dixon allegedly said Renee Gunbie was making and selling speed and was "fried". Together with her brother they were taking the money.

"They all got in with the Headhunters and Rough Riders. That's when I got the gun and stuff ... My only crime is that I am white."

Dixon's lawyer, Barry Hart, urged the justices to put aside the fact that Dixon had been manacled during the six-day hearing, saying the constraint was prejudicial and would lead jurors to think the man was dangerous.

After being committed Dixon indicated he did not consent to being held on remand in custody, leading Mr Hart to say he was being kept in terrible conditions.

Dixon's lack of consent to being held in custody means he will be brought before a court potentially every week before his trial.

Richard Marchant, for the Crown, then successfully sought approval from the justices to be excused from Dixon's appearances in the interest of saving taxpayers' money.