Man sent for trial for murder of cat protection woman

Kerry Leigh Downey. Photo / Supplied

Ashley Donald Peach has been sent to the High Court for trial on a charge of murdering cat protection worker Kerry Leigh Downey.

His depositions hearing ended this morning, on its second day, and John O'Hara and Bruce Dawson, Justices of the Peace, committed him to the High Court at Christchurch for a pre-trial call-over on March 6.

That session may set a date for the trial.

Counsel David Stringer said the defence was reserved.

Evidence was heard from eight witnesses for the crown and evidence from 21 more witnesses was handed to the JPs in written form.

Only one of the witnesses was heard today, and the witness' name was suppressed at the request of crown prosecutor Pip Currie. Then all of his evidence was suppressed at the request of Mr Stringer and the crown did not oppose that application.

Peach, 41, is charged with murdering Miss Downey, 52, on August 18, after she called at his flat in Upper Riccarton to pick up an unwanted cat.

The crown case was that he murdered her by strangling her at the flat and then put her body in Miss Downey's own car to drive her to the Port Hills where he pushed the body down a bank on Worsleys Road. It was found there two days later.

- NZPA

Unlock all articles by subscribing to this international offer

All Access Weekly

Herald Premium, Viva Premium, The Listener & BusinessDesk

Pay just

$15.75

$2

per week ongoing

See all offers

Already a subscriber? Sign in here