Accused’s son retells death vow
A woman accused of attempting to murder a teenager allegedly told her victim before attacking her with a hammer: ’’This is the part where you die and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.’’
Julie-ann Torrance’s 22-yearold son is giving evidence for the Crown in the High Court at Auckland at the trial of his mother who, along with four others, is accused of varying roles in the two abductions of a teenage sex worker.
The complainant was allegedly kidnapped and subjected to two vicious assaults where she was bound, Tasered, her hair cut off, she was sexually violated, beaten with cricket wickets and a cricket bat, and then her head was bashed with a hammer.
The five on trial are Cameron Hakeke, Michelle Blom, Julie-ann Torrance, Nicola Jones, and Wayne Blackett.
Blackett, Torrance and Jones have admitted some of the charges against them, and at issue is what role each defendant played in the alleged attacks.
The Crown says the two abductions were carried out after Jones, a long-time friend of the complainant, formed the belief that the victim had slept with her boyfriend and played a role in having her two children taken off her by Child Youth and Family.
Torrance was also said to have been incensed after the victim allegedly stole Torrance’s late daughter’s jewellery.
The complainant was discovered lying on the side of the road in Auckland’s Dome Valley in May last year.
A pathologist has given evidence that she suffered traumatic head injuries, including at least seven blows to the skull with a weapon believed to be a hammer.
After that final alleged attack, Torrance’s son – who has interim name suppression – told jurors, Nicola Jones confessed to him what had happened, implicating his mother in the events.
He said a tearful Jones said she tried to stop the final hammer attack but was allegedly threatened by Wayne Blackett to keep quiet.
‘‘I remember [Jones] saying mum needed to be exposed for what she has done, saying that mum had the plan of everything, or was the ring leader,’’ he said.
Jones allegedly told him that during the complainant’s time in captivity in a Glen Eden, West Auckland, home, the victim turned to Jones and asked her if she was going to die.
‘‘Nikki told her she wasn’t sure if she was or not,’’ Torrance’s son said.
‘‘She told me [the complainant] had slept with her children’s father and she had got her kids taken off her, and that they all kind of got together and did what they did to her.
‘‘[Jones] told me that mum pulled [the victim] out of the car [at Dome Valley] and ... leaned in front of her face and told her: This is the part where you die and I’m going to enjoy every single minute of it.
‘‘She said Wayne tried to break [the victim’s] neck twice and that didn’t work so he tried to strangle her but ... the human instinct was to fight back and that also didn’t work so mum went out and got the hammer and passed it to Wayne and he struck her maybe nine or 10 times, something like that.
‘‘[Jones] said that she could hear the skull crack. She said she was crying and holding the torch in the direction of what was happening.
‘‘She was upset and told them to stop but was told: Don’t make it two bodies. She said Wayne said that to her.’’
Wayne Blackett pleaded guilty to one charge of attempted murder the day the trial started.
Torrance’s son said that after the alleged confession from Jones – during which she ‘‘cried uncontrollably’’ – he and his girlfriend packed their things, visited his sister’s grave one last time, then left Auckland.
The defendants have denied the following:
Nicola Jones: Threatening to kill, sexual violation, attempted murder, injuring with intent, assault with a Taser
Julie-ann Torrance: assault with a weapon, sexual violation, attempted murder
Cameron Hakeke: kidnapping, stealing a car, assault with a Taser, assault with scissors
Michelle Blom: Injuring with intent, kidnapping, assault with a cricket wicket, assault with scissors, sexual violation
Wayne Blackett: assault with a cricket wicket, assault with scissors, sexual violation.