Teen pleads self defence in murder

William Lewis. Photo / Supplied

An Oamaru teenager is claiming he acted in self defence in an altercation which resulted in the death of another teen last year.

Seventeen-year-old Daniel Ethan Smith's trial for the murder of William Lewis on April 1 last year started before Justice John Fogarty and a jury of 10 men and two women in the High Court at Timaru yesterday.

The victim and his alleged killer were both 16 at the time of the killing.

Crown prosecutor Andrew McRae said Smith stabbed William Lewis three times during a fight.

Defence counsel Bernadette Farnham said that earlier in the day there were arguments between the two during which the accused was pushed and threatened.

She said William Lewis had also tried to take Smith's hoodie from him.

The met again in the town centre of Oamaru when William Lewis challenged the accused to a fight.

Prosecution witness Donovan Smith, unrelated to the accused, told the court William Lewis challenged Smith to fight but Smith tried to avoid the confrontation and walked away.

Mr Smith said the defendant and William Lewis met again later in the evening and a fight erupted. He saw a knife in the accused's hand.

He said Smith hit William Lewis three times in the back with the knife.

William Lewis died a few minutes later.

- NZPA