Girl was aiming at `nothing', court told

Rarua Edwardson says she didn't mean to stab her former friend - she only carried a knife for protection against bullies.

The Turangi 17-year-old broke down in the dock in the High Court at Rotorua yesterday as she talked about stabbing 16-year-old Melissa Moana Puhi in the neck with a knife.

The wound proved fatal but Edwardson said she had been aiming at "nothing" when she lashed out after Miss Puhi punched her.

Edwardson gave evidence in her defence in court yesterday, on trial after pleading not guilty to murdering Miss Puhi in Turangi on May 13 last year.

The Crown says Edwardson took a wine knife with a retractable blade and "plunged" it into Miss Puhi's neck after an argument and a physical fight between the pair. Miss Puhi died in an ambulance on the way to Taupo Hospital.

Edwardson, through her lawyer John Rowan, QC, said she was acting in self defence and had no intention to kill Miss Puhi.

Yesterday she took the stand and talked about how she had asked a girl "are you trying to jump my mate?". When the girl said no Edwardson walked away.

A short time later she saw Miss Puhi who told her if she was going "to get" the girl Edwardson would have to go through her (Miss Puhi) and another teenager.

Edwardson said Miss Puhi told her "to hurry up, come on" and Edwardson said she did not want to fight and the matter had been sorted.

"And then she [Miss Puhi] came up to me with her head down and she was like a charging bull ... I felt her head." Miss Puhi told Edwardson, who was carrying some bottles of alcohol, to smash them over her head and Edwardson was telling her to leave.

Miss Puhi walked across the road where she threw some bottles at Edwardson, but they missed her.

Miss Puhi walked "staunch" towards Edwardson.

"Most of her body was swaying back like a man."

Miss Puhi pushed and shoved Edwardson and she pushed her back. Miss Puhi then hit her "a good one" in the face.

Edwardson said her face was throbbing and the vision in her left eye went blurry for five seconds.

Edwardson said she pulled a knife out of her pocket.

"I brought my arm up and brought it down."

She said she was trying to get Miss Puhi away and was aiming the knife at "nothing".

"Everything just seemed like it just stopped and she [Miss Puhi] just looked behind her and she just said 'get her Marama',"

Edwardson said she heard loud banging and Miss Puhi saying she had been cut.

"I just freaked and ran."

Edwardson ran to her aunt's house and told her everything.

"I just blurted it out so fast."

They drove to her mother's house and then went to the Turangi police station where Edwardson was interviewed.

Asked why she carried a knife, Edwardson said it was for her protection because she had been bullied by some boys in the township.

Two of Edwardson's teachers from Te Kura O Hirangi in Turangi are to be called to give evidence about her character.