Man guilty of body in wardrobe murder

Photo / NZH

Loud crying was heard from the public gallery after a jury found Hutt Valley man Malcolm Ngeru guilty of murdering his partner Mihi Tuhoro in June last year.

Cries of "mongrel" and "thank you your honour" were also heard in the court room.

Ms Tuhoro's body was found stuffed in a wardrobe at the couple's flat about a month after it was alleged she had been killed.

Ngeru had moved out of the flat.

A post mortem showed she had a number of injuries, including the severe skull fracture and bleeding on the brain which led to her death.

During the trial in the High Court at Wellington, the Crown claimed Ngeru attacked Ms Tuhoro after an argument.

The jury which retired yesterday afternoon returned after six hours of deliberations at around 3pm today.

Ngeru was remanded in custody for sentence on December 11.

- NZPA