The former partner of murder accused Liam James Reid was today accused of "distorting" her evidence about his behaviour after the disappearance and murder of Christchurch woman Emma Agnew.
The woman, who has name suppression, was challenged about the evidence she gave yesterday, as the trial continued today
in the High Court at Christchurch before Justice Lester Chisholm and a jury, the Christchurch Court News website reported.
Miss Agnew's body was found near Spencer Park, north of Christchurch, a few days after Reid and the woman stayed at a unit there.
The woman told of Reid immediately pulling the curtains when they arrived at the unit.
She said he jumped out a window and ran away into the pine trees when a television news van arrived.
She said he made his way through the forest and got her to pick him up along the road when the police were making inquiries at the park.
Defence counsel David Bunce today challenged her about "exaggerating and distorting" what had happened. She denied that.
Mr Bunce said Reid had pulled the unit's curtains simply so that they could have privacy for sex, but she said the sex had not taken place until later.
Mr Bunce said Reid would say in evidence that he was keen to avoid attention from the authorities because he had one or two warrants out for his arrest at that time.
But he would deny jumping out the window or running away into the trees, or meeting her along the road to be picked up.
Mr Bunce said that sort of behaviour would be exactly what would attract attention.
The woman said Reid had done these things and in the end, she had been keen to leave Spencer Park.
"It was meant to be a nice time but it turned into a drama again."
Reid denies charges of raping and murdering Miss Agnew last November, and raping, sexually violating, robbing, and attempting to murder another woman a few days later in Dunedin.
- NZPA
