Smail called himself a murderer - police

The police officer who took Eric Neil Smail to the Sumner police station said Smail told him that he killed his best friend Keith McCormick and he should have done it years ago.

Smail also told him that he was a murderer, Constable Matthew Hill told the eighth day of Smail's murder trial in the High Court at Christchurch.

He said Smail had $20 notes in his pocket and said they belonged to Mr McCormick, for whom he was the caregiver, but that he hadn't taken the money and it was not a robbery.

Smail, 53, denies murdering the paralysed man but his defence counsel has told the court he admitted responsibility for the death and would accept a finding of manslaughter.

Constable Hill told the court that Smail said he had murdered his best friend. He said while he was speaking to Smail his cell phone rang and Smail said it was a reminder to give Mr McCormick his medication, but that he wouldn't need it now.

The jury has heard from 40 crown witness over eight days, and there are 12 more to give evidence before Smail's counsel start their defence.

- NZPA