A Turangi teenager accused of murdering a girl had stabbed her in the neck with a wine knife, the Rotorua Youth Court has heard.
The teenager, who cannot be named, is appearing in court for a depositions hearing before Judge Phillip Cooper.
She is charged with murdering 16-year-old Turangi girl Melissa Moana Puhi at Turangi on May 13 this year.
Rotorua Crown prosecutor Amanda Gordon said the teenager had been drinking bottles of bourbon and coke at a friend's house. They left the house after 11pm and went to the house of another friend who was celebrating his 21st birthday.
The teenager's friend, who also cannot be legally named because of her age, gave evidence yesterday.
She said she and the accused were outside the house when the accused threatened to punch one of the girls in the face. Melissa, who was known as "Pep", said she would not let the accused do that to her friend.
Melissa challenged her to a fight and the pair began pushing each other.
Melissa threw a bottle but it did not hit the accused. She started punching the accused in the upper body area. The accused had a bottle in each hand.
The friend told the court she saw the accused swing her right arm with what she thought was a bottle at Melissa into her neck. Melissa did not hit back and put her hand up to the part of her neck where she had been struck.
"I saw the blood. I seen it coming out. It was just squirting," the witness said.
The accused's friend said she heard Melissa tell someone to "get" the accused.
The witness saw Melissa run to a family member's home but when she turned around the accused had left. The witness said she and the accused had each drunk between seven and 12 bottles of bourbon and coke. She said they were not drunk but they were "getting there".
She said Melissa was drunk because she could barely walk.
In her opening statement outlining the case, Ms Gordon said Melissa was bleeding profusely and an ambulance was called.
She was taken to Taupo Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.
The accused ran off past a family member's house who saw her and asked what was wrong. She told her aunt she had just stabbed somebody.
Family members took the accused to the police and she admitted stabbing Melissa with a "wine" knife.
She told police she carried the knife in her pocket for her own protection. About 15 of the 24 witnesses are expected to give evidence during the depositions hearing which is due to finish on Thursday.
John Rowan, QC, is appearing for the accused.
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