Murder-accused changes plea to guilty

A murder trial has been aborted after the accused man changed his plea to guilty today.

The trial in the High Court at Auckland had been set down for three weeks, but Sam Simi, 26, changed his plea after a jury had been picked and the Crown had made its opening submissions.

Olo Fiti Lauvi, 37, a father of four, died after he was stabbed outside a friend's place in Preston Rd, Otara, on March 27 last year.

Crown prosecutor Kevin Glubb had opened the case, telling the jury that Simi deliberately stabbed Mr Lauvi seven times with unnecessary violence.

Simi had been drinking with Mr Lauvi and several other friends earlier that evening when he became angry and began breaking bottles and told Mr Lauvi to leave.

As soon he drove off Simi went inside the house and removed a blue handled knife from the kitchen and chased Mr Lauvi in his car for some kilometres.

"He confronted him in a driveway without warning and pulled a knife out of his pocket and stabbed him seven times," Mr Glubb said.

Mr Lauvi collapsed and died shortly after.

Simi booked a flight to Samoa the next day, and a friend drove him to Auckland International Airport.

Police had placed a watch on the border and his identification was flagged as he passed through immigration.

He was arrested and later charged with murder.

When interviewed by police, Simi told police he had the knife to keep him safe. He said Mr Lauvi was going to hit him with a bottle.

After he changed his plea Simi was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on July 16.

- NZPA