Manurewa driveway shooting: Man found not guilty

Bodi McKee. Photo / Supplied

Why two men began arguing in a Manurewa driveway was never explained to the court. But the fight ended with Leslie Putt fatally shot in the stomach.

After nine hours of deliberation, a jury on Thursday found Bodi McKee, 24, not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of 32-year-old Manurewa man Mr Putt last September.

There were insults hurled at McKee from the back of the packed public gallery as he was led from the High Court at Auckland following the verdict.

McKee himself let out a cheer as he left the room.

There had never been a question of whether he was the shooter, but his defence argued he was just protecting himself during the altercation outside a home on Winsford Street on September 24.

During the trial, the Crown said McKee had arrived at the home - a site of alleged commercial-scale drug dealing - about 7am , carrying a loaded gun and mysteriously wearing a wig.

One of the five witnesses at the scene, Jacinta Monkley, described McKee spotting the car Mr Putt was sleeping in outside, before running out to confront him.

Other's described being woken by shouts of "drop the f***ing gun and fight like a man", prosecutors saying McKee knew Mr Putt just wanted a fist fight as their argument grew heated.

"[McKee] did not leave, he did not fire a warning shot," Crown lawyer Yelena Yelavich said. "The defendant had the gun targeted at Mr Putt and he struck his target."

But the defence painted a picture of a terrified McKee, cornered and trying to get away. There were high amounts of methamphetamine found in Mr Putt's body afterwards, explaining his aggression, defence lawyer Annabel Ives said.

He was also on the run from police at the time, was a regular brawler and may have slept outside the home that night as "security", she said.

Ms Ives described Mr Putt yelling threats and challenging McKee, the younger man begging for help as he backed up against the house, only pulling out his gun when he wasn't allowed to escape inside.

"'Get away from me', Mr McKee was yelling ... 'Get him away from me'," Ms Yves recounted for the jury. Then as Mr Putt moved forward, McKee fired, she said.

"It was Leslie Putt that took a swing and made him flinch in that final second. "What other options did he actually have?"

Mr Putt died at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics. McKee was arrested two days later in Papakura. The gun was never found. McKee will be sentenced in September.