Man's trial for wife's murder begins

A South Auckland man went on trial yesterday in the High Court at Auckland charged with the murder of his wife on Boxing Day 2006.

The Crown alleges Keleti Seau, 45, stabbed Atonauga Seau to death in their home in Otara in the early hours of December 26. He is alleged to have stabbed his wife of 17 years at least 11 times in her own bed with a kitchen knife after drinking heavily during the day.

Mr Seau's lawyers said he admitted the stabbing but insisted that he did not intend to kill her.