Shayde Carolyn Weston, Breeze Hunt-Weston, Louise Kelly Hume, and Pania Ella Waaka all pleaded not guilty to the murder of Tongia. Photo: Stuff / Juan Zarama Perini
The Crown has given its closing statement in the long-running Karori murder trial.
Four women are on trial for the death of Rau Tongia, who died in his Karori home in December 2020.
Shayde Carolyn Weston, Breeze Hunt-Weston, Louise Kelly Hume, and Pania Ella Waaka all pleaded not guilty to the murder of Tongia, who the Crown allege was shot in the back while he slept at a house in Wellington's Karori in December 2020.
A fifth woman was also set to go on trial charged with murder but was excused due to health reasons. Her name is suppressed.
Hunt-Weston also pleaded not guilty to two other charges.
The trial at the High Court in Wellington was initially scheduled to begin on 13 May and was set down for eight weeks.
After two weeks of delays, the Crown kicked off its case on 27 May, spearheaded by Crown Prosecutor Sally Carter.
Crown's closing
Carter said the evidence was clear that Tongia was shot in the back while he was lying in bed, and he then bled to death.
Carter said Tongia was shot around 4.36am on 20 December 2020.
Carter said the Crown's case was that it was Hunt Weston's car that was driven to Tongia's address, the car was driven by Waaka and that Weston went up the stairs to the ranch slider door, carrying a firearm that came from Hume's address.
The Crown alleged the death was a revenge killing, after Tongia had assaulted Weston earlier in the night.
Carter said witness testimony suggested Weston had talked about killing Tongia prior to going to his address, and both Waaka and Hunt-Weston were aware she had the firearm before she made the trip to Karori.
Meanwhile, Carter said CCTV footage showed Hunt-Weston's car leaving Halswell Lodge shortly after the woman with name suppression sent texts to Weston that suggested she wanted Tongia to die.
Hunt-Weston's car is tracked to Percy Dyett Drive arriving around 4.36am and leaving a short while later.
Carter said a selfie of Weston and Waaka was then taken around 4.52am, shortly after leaving the address.
Google Maps data from Waaka's phone also showed she looked up directions to the street.
Meanwhile, the Crown alleged that texts between Hume and the fifth woman were evidence of a gun being organised.
Carter suggested Hume's address was a place that was known to be where firearms were available.
Weston, Hunt-Weston and two other women visited Hume's address after Weston was assaulted and had been collected from Percy Dyett Drive, and Carter said the Crown believed this was when the gun was picked up.
Additional charges
Hunt-Weston is also on addition charges for hitting Tongia in the head with a hammer when picking Weston up from Percy Dyett Drive following her altercation with Tongia.
Hunt-Weston has admitted to hitting Tongia with the hammer in order to defend Weston who was allegedly being attacked by Tongia again.
However, the Crown argues as the women who went to the address came with weapons, that behaviour was more consistent with being the aggressors.
Defence to make their closing statements in days ahead
Defence counsel for each of the defendants are set to make their closing statements in the coming days, starting tomorrow.
During opening remarks, defence counsel for Shayde Weston, Robert Lithgow, said Weston did not have any shotgun residue on her.
Defence counsel for Breeze Hunt-Weston, Gretel Fairbrother, said her client had no idea someone had even taken her car or what they were going to do.
Defence counsel for Pania Waaka, Letizea Ord, said her client had not knowingly or willingly become involved in the shooting.
And defence counsel for Louise Kelly Hume, Shane Robinson, said Hume denied any involvement in arranging or providing a firearm.
