Witness Testifies Teen Accused of Murder Snatched Phone to Film Bloody Video
A teenage girl who witnessed a fatal street attack testified in the High Court at Palmerston North that a teen accused of murdering schoolboy Kaea Karauria snatched her phone to record a video of his blood-covered hand holding a knife. The trial centers on the early morning hours of 11 May last year in Napier, where the victim was attacked following a minor dispute.
Street Attack on Dinwiddie Avenue
The witness, whose name is suppressed, told the court she was drinking with a friend in Flaxmere when the accused messaged her on Instagram and picked them up, driving them to Napier. According to RNZ, the group arrived on Dinwiddie Avenue in Onekawa, where one of the accused’s friends reacted angrily upon hearing that Karauria had touched his girlfriend at a party a few weeks earlier. A circle of people formed on the street, punching and kicking the 15-year-old victim. The female witness stated she was sitting on the lap of the murder-accused in a car when he pushed her away, jumped out, and joined the assault. She saw Karauria on the ground before he got up and sprinted around the corner to Alexander Avenue, where he collapsed and died.
Court Plays Instagram Video Evidence
Following the attack, some of the group returned to the car laughing while the witness was taking an Instagram selfie video, or “boomerang.” The witness testified that the accused grabbed her phone, filmed a video of his bloodied right hand holding a knife, and later messaged her to send him the footage. The court played the video multiple times, featuring an individual shouting “sieg f…… heil,” a phrase associated with the Mongrel Mob. Crown prosecutor Stephen Manning maintains the teen is guilty of murder, while the defence argues the accused admits to the stabbing but should be convicted of manslaughter due to significant intellectual impairments affecting his understanding of his reckless actions.
Forensic Examination of the Crime Scene
Forensic scientist Glenys Knight detailed her examination of the physical evidence, tracing blood along Dinwiddie Avenue to the Alexander Avenue property where Karauria collapsed. Knight explained to the jury that large bloodstains on the concrete outside a gate indicated an arterial breach, meaning the victim’s heart pumped blood out under hydraulic pressure. Transfer blood staining on a fence further mapped Karauria’s final movements as he attempted to escape the group. The trial before the High Court at Palmerston North continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Kaea Karauria attacked in Napier?
The Crown asserts that the accused and his associates attacked Karauria due to a minor incident involving a friend’s girlfriend at a party weeks prior, combined with a mistaken belief that the victim was associated with the Black Power gang.
What legal charge does the accused face?
The defendant is on trial for murder, an allegation brought by Crown prosecutor Stephen Manning. However, defense counsel argues the jury should convict him of manslaughter because significant intellectual impairments prevented him from knowing his actions could cause death.
What evidence links the accused to the fatal stabbing?
A teenage witness testified that the accused took her phone immediately after the attack to record a video of his bloodied hand holding a knife. Forensic scientist Glenys Knight also presented blood-spatter evidence gathered from Dinwiddie Avenue and Alexander Avenue.