Murder accused 'talked of getting victim'

Murder accused Aidan Murray told his twin brother and a friend that he had "got" Hayden Kelly on the morning Mr Kelly was found dying in a pool of blood on Collingwood St bridge, the Nelson District Court was told yesterday.

A Stoke woman, Tamzin Ford, said Aidan told her and Dallas Murray: "I have done it, I have done it, mate. I bottled him from behind and stomped him.

"He was definitely unconscious and I think I might have killed him.

"I didn't mean to go that far."

Yesterday was the first day of a depositions hearing into the killing of Mr Kelly.

Aidan Murray, 32, has been charged with murder, while Dallas Murray has been charged with perverting the course of justice and tampering with evidence to enable his brother to avoid arrest.

Crown prosecutor Glen Marshall told the court that on Friday, September 20 last year, Mr Kelly had been drinking at the Loft Bar in Bridge St.

About 2.55am he was removed from the bar and spoken to on the footpath outside by police.

While this was happening, two other patrons, Aidan and Dallas Murray, walked past.

Dallas threatened to strike Mr Kelly with his elbow, Mr Marshall said.

Police spoke to Dallas about his actions and Mr Kelly walked off.

Mr Marshall said Aidan then grabbed Mr Kelly and pushed him to the ground. Aidan was arrested and released on bail about 4.20am.

Mr Marshall told the court that shortly afterwards Mr Kelly was seen walking east on Bridge St.

Witnesses said he was writing on shop windows using hot chips.

About 5am, Mr Kelly was found unconscious and badly beaten on the bridge.

He was admitted to Nelson Hospital in a critical condition and later airlifted to Wellington Hospital, where he died.

Mr Marshall said that after Aidan was arrested, Dallas went to stay at a female friend's house in Stoke.

About 5am, Aidan arrived at the house, where he washed his boots and changed his clothes. He left those, and a cellphone, in a wardrobe at the house.

Mr Marshall said Aidan talked of disposing of the items. An attempt was made to burn them by Ms Ford, but it was only partly successful.

The articles were then disposed of in a forestry area, Mr Marshall said.

Both men were spoken to by police in the next few days and denied any involvement.

Aidan was arrested on October 6 last year in Auckland. He was about to board a flight to Australia.

Dallas voluntarily went to the police station the next day, where he was arrested.

Ms Ford said she was asleep on the morning of September 21 when she got a text message from Dallas about 3.15am. She said the message said something to the effect: "In town drinking, having a bit of a bad night, looking for Aidan."

She then got another text about 15 minutes later which said: "Can't find Aidan, he has been arrested."

Dallas also asked if he could come and sleep at her place. Ms Ford said Dallas arrived 10 to 15 minutes later by car.

She said Dallas had told her they had been drinking in town and had a bit of a run-in with "some guy with dreadlocks".

Aidan had been arrested and "done a runner" from the police and Dallas had run down the road after his brother saying, "Go man, go".

She said Aidan told Dallas he had been watching Mr Kelly tagging the shop windows and he was going to get him.

She said Dallas told Aidan: "Don't be such an idiot, it's not worth it. Get in a taxi and come here."

The case is being heard before two justices of the peace and is expected to run until at least the end of the week.

- NZPA