The man accused of murdering and dismembering Christchurch father-of-three Richard Leman has given evidence at his own trial.
Leman’s partial remains were found in the boot of Michael Scott Rodger‘s car at an abandoned house in Rangiora in April 2023.
After a police investigation, Rodger, 49, was charged with murder.
It is alleged he shot and killed Leman – a father of three – at Grant’s property and then “decapitated and dismembered” him.
His trial began last month in the High Court at Christchurch before Justice Jonathan Eaton and a jury.
Rodger has pleaded not guilty to murder and claims he is not responsible for the death.
The Crown alleges that Rodger killed Leman at Morgan “Molly” Grant’s home while she and Sara Plimmer – a friend of the victim who had spent the afternoon with him – were present.
The court heard earlier that Rodger had claimed Leman was already dead when he got to Grant’s property and that the women and police were trying to set him up.
The Crown finished presenting evidence, including lengthy testimony from both Plimmer and Grant, to the jury today.
Defence lawyer Ethan Huda then called Rodger to give his version of events just before the lunchtime adjournment.
The jury heard that at the time of the alleged murder, he was living with his partner, not far from Grant’s house in Rangiora.
The couple have been together about five years and have a preschool-age child together and Rodger’s partner has two teenage children from a previous relationship.
On the day Leman died, Rodger had been in Christchurch “purchasing some product” which he explained meant “buying some meth”.
While in the city, he was messaging Grant.
He then returned to Rangiora and confirmed that he was driving around the town in his car – which was captured at various locations on CCTV.
He denied having a firearm with him that night.
“I definitely didn’t,” he said.
“I’ve just been in town buying a large amount of [meth] ... half an ounce, which is about 14g.
“So I wouldn’t want to get caught with 14g and a gun driving around in my car … I’d be instantly locked up … driving around in Christchurch, there’s more chance of being pulled up – there’s a lot more activities going on and more police presence in Christchurch.”
The jury heard earlier that Grant had messaged Rodger, inviting him to her home because she “wanted to get high”.
She told him she was alone at the house and when Leman arrived unexpectedly soon after, she messaged Rodger to let him know.
She said she only told Rodger because her circumstances had changed and she did not want to look like she had lied.
She said she later deleted that message on Rodger’s orders.
He said he did not delete any of his messages from that night.
“I don’t even know why she would have erased that message,” he said.
“I never responded because I was still driving …”
Rodger said he went to see Grant – who he had known for 20 years – because “I’d already told her I’d come over”.
“I knew she was hanging out and I knew she wanted a session and stuff like that,” he said.
“And to tell you the honest truth, I don’t even know why I went because we hadn’t even been speaking – we had been off terms for a bit of time. I just decided to go around.”
Huda asked his client if he went to the address with the intention of “robbing” Leman.
Rodger rejected that suggestion.
He said he was “not doing too bad” financially at the time and did not need any money.
He explained he had been paid around $70,000 in compensation by a government department for “a situation I was in when I was younger” and had some family money.
“I had a relatively decent amount of money at that time, as well as other things that were worth a lot of money,” he said.
“Also, as my mum had died not long beforehand, I was reasonably well off and doing quite well for myself.”
Rodger confirmed that on the night of the alleged murder, he had more than $20,000 in his bank account.
He will continue giving evidence this afternoon.
Anna Leask is a senior journalist who covers national crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 20 years with a particular focus on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicides, mental health and youth crime. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast, A Moment In Crime, released monthly on nzherald.co.nz