Quiet man erupted in frustration, court told

File photo / NZH

Residents of a Newtown halfway house told the High Court at Wellington today how a quiet, usually well-behaved man erupted early one morning and allegedly stabbed a fellow boarder to death with two large kitchen knives.

Wiremu Pokai Haare, 45, is on trial for the murder of 37-year-old Kelly Noema in Mansfield House on August 11, 2009.

According to the Crown, Mr Noema was stabbed 28 times and left bleeding on the first floor of the boarding house.

The trial, which is expected to last up to two weeks, began yesterday before Justice Jillian Mallon and a jury of eight women and four men.

This morning, jurors visited the crime scene.

Evidence was given this afternoon that Mr Noema had been sniffing glue on the night before his death and making a nuisance of himself.

An array of people who had been living at Mansfield House at the time told of how Mr Noema, who did not sleep well, was banging around during the night, "being real noisy", knocking on bedroom doors and waking up other residents.

An annoyed Haare got up, yelled and swore at him and smashed a glass door in frustration.

A man known as a loner who spent most of his time in his room, the "amped up" Haare was heard threatening to "get" Mr Noema.

One witness told how, when the kitchen opened for breakfast that morning, he saw the accused take two knives from the knife block.

"He seemed a bit angry. He didn't say anything."

The witness walked outside and then heard screaming.

A man whose room was opposite Haare's had gone back to bed after the night's ruckus and later answered a knock on his door.

"I opened it and the bro came in my room and confessed to me."

He told the court Haare said: "I did it, I finished the c -- not just once, this much." The witness demonstrated by holding up both hands, extending all his fingers.

In a state of disbelief he "hushed" the accused out of his room because he thought Haare "might do something to me".

Soon after, ambulance and police arrived. Haare was handcuffed and marched away.

The witness described him as a quiet man who mostly kept to himself.

The accused was always at Mansfield House and did not go out drinking with other residents.

"He loved his peace and quiet."

- NZPA