Five on trial for murder of man stabbed in Invercargill

INVERCARGILL 19yearold Jack McAllister died from loss of blood after suffering 14 stab wounds, including one which severed a major artery, the High Court at Invercargill was told yesterday.

Christopher Brown (20), Laura Scheepers (19), Natasha Ruffell (27), David Wilson (20) and a 24yearold woman with interim name suppression are standing trial at the High Court at Invercargill, all facing a single charge of murdering Mr McAllister.

Crown lawyer Riki Donnelly, in his opening address, said while none of the five defendants was physically involved in the stabbing, each had played their part.

Brayden WhitingRoff, who has previously pleaded guilty to Mr McAllister’s murder, was the principal offender, Mr Donnelly said.

Mr McAllister died from injuries sustained during an attack at Stadium Southland on June 7 last year.

The Crown alleged Mr McAllister had been lured to Stadium Southland by Scheepers, with the promise of sex, to lull him into a false sense of security. She then relayed where she was to Brown.

The other defendants, along with WhitingRoff, arrived at Stadium Southland, where the assault took place, Mr Donnelly said.

He said there was ‘‘significant animosity’’ towards Mr McAllister by a number of individuals in the group, based on a belief Mr McAllister had acted ‘‘inapprop riately’’ towards girls.

Mr Donnelly said evidence would show the defendants had a shared understanding of the elements involved leading up to the incident, and each knew the probable consequences of their assistance.

Members of the jury were shown CCTV footage of the incident at Stadium Southland, including a moment the Crown alleges was WhitingRoff stabbing Mr McAllister.

Because of the number of defendants and security required, family members and the general public will view the trial from a separate court room.

Justice Rachel Dunningham told the court the jury empanelling process was the longest she had seen by far.

Fortysix potential jurors were excused, and another 19 were challenged by the defence or Crown before the jury of seven women and five men were selected.

The trial is expected to run for five weeks.