Killed over ‘silly’ argument

NAPIER: Witnesses in the trial of a 14yearold boy accused of murdering Hawke’s Bay man Kelly Donner have described finding him lying a pool of blood.

The trial of Haami Hanara is under way in the High Court at Napier.

The teenager yesterday admitted robbing Mr Donner (40), but said he did not kill him.

The Crown says Hanara stabbed him four times over an argument about a torch.

Prosector Steve Manning said Hanara and four other teenagers were planning to rob the bottle shop attached to the Flax Bar and Eatery on March 4.

But upon entering a caged area at the back of the shop the teenagers found Mr Donner.

Hanara asked to borrow Mr Donner’s torch, but would not give it back, Mr Manning said.

‘‘It seems the catalyst, the trigger, for this incident is something as silly as an argument over a torch.

The five youths turned on Mr Donner, even throwing a bicycle at him, he said.

‘‘He had a beer bottle smashed over his face and then all hell broke loose. Immediately, these five young people began to attack him, and they attacked him with beer bottles, pieces of wood and fence palings.’’

The Crown argued Mr Donner then tried to retreat but Hanara, who emerged from the shadows holding a knife, attacked him.

CCTV footage showed Hanara carrying a knife before and after the attack, but there is no footage of the actual attack.

The Crown said the jury would hear from eyewitnesses what happened during those 34 seconds not recorded on CCTV.

The court is sitting in 40minute blocks, with breaks every hour, to accommodate the needs of Hanara.

This was to ensure he did not have to concentrate for too long.

The teenager also has an official communicator to help him understand what is happening throughout the trial.

The trial is due to last two weeks. — RNZ