Pensioner murder jury back with list of questions for judge

A jury deliberated late into last evening trying to decide if an unemployed loner murdered two Feilding pensioners after following one of them home from the pub.

David Konia, 53, is charged with murdering Margaret Walden, 76, and Ted Ferguson, 73, on May 27 last year after following Mrs Walden back to the flat of her close friend Mr Ferguson in the Manawatu town.

After two weeks of evidence in the High Court at Palmerston North the jury retired yesterday morning to consider whether Konia had stabbed the pair to death.

Four hours later they were back with a list of questions for Justice Ronald Young.

Justice Young had earlier warned them not to concern themselves with any evidence that had not been given at the trial.

But many of the jury's new questions were about just that - evidence that hadn't been presented or requests for greater detail.

The judge again told the jury to make their minds up on the basis of what they had heard and seen over the course of the trial.

The jury had wanted to know more about whether Konia's hand or footprints had been matched to those found at the scene, how some "hooded" men were discounted from police inquiries, and more about Mrs Walden's purse, wallet and handbag.

But Justice Young said no further information was available other than what had been given in the trial.

The jury also wanted repeat viewings of security camera footage from the pub in Feilding and taken outside a liquor store in the town, which Justice Young allowed to be replayed.

Earlier, he had summarised the evidence and the defence and Crown arguments for the jury. He warned the jury they shouldn't make a leap of thought and decide that the killer must be mentally ill and therefore Konia, who had schizophrenia, must be the killer.

He also reminded the jury that witnesses had said Konia was gentle.

Justice Young said Crown prosecutor Tim Brewer had claimed the jury should decide Konia was the killer because he had the opportunity, wanted money, and was resentful of the pair not buying him a drink. But Justice Young said Konia's lawyer Fergus Steedman had claimed Konia did not appear to be any wealthier after the alleged robberies.

- NZPA