Victim told to dig his own grave
Two men admit murder in Hawke’s Bay
ANapier man was told to dig his own grave before he was murdered. The horrific details of Alex Latimer’s death can now be revealed after James Taylor Martin Webby admitted a charge of murder, as well as two charges of aggravated robbery, one charge of arson and one charge of perverting the course of justice.
Webby appeared in the High Court in Napier yesterday in front of Justice Robert Dobson.
His co-offender, David James Lothian, earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of murder, two of aggravated robbery, one of arson, and one charge of reckless driving.
The summary of facts for the case details how the pair lured Latimer to an address in Te Haroto, off the Napier-Taupo¯ road, before telling him to dig his own grave. Latimer knew the pair through their involvement in the Hawke’s Bay drug world.
On September 29, 2018, Webby, Lothian and an associate were drinking bourbon and smoking cannabis together at Lothian’s house when Latimer’s name was bought up.
The associate texted Latimer, asking him to bring drugs to the address. The plan was to “roll” him for drugs and/or cash.
Latimer arrived at the Te Haroto address early on September 30. Lothian was waiting in a shed while Webby was in a car.
Latimer was greeted by the associate, who told him he was going inside for a cigarette, then the defendants started punching the victim.
He was beaten around the head, and then dragged to the rear of the property, and was hit with a shovel.
The shovel was then thrown at Latimer and he was told to dig his own grave. The defendants then dug the grave as the victim lay in it.
Lothian stabbed him multiple times in the back and the side, telling him he was going to die, before stabbing him once in the throat.
The offenders covered him in dirt in an effort to bury him.
He was then moved to a second grave, about 10 metres away, just outside the property boundary.
His body was found after a search of the property on October 6.
A post-mortem confirmed Latimer died of stab wounds and blunt force trauma to the face and chest.
Lothian and Webby have been remanded in custody for sentencing on November 11.— Hawke’s Bay Today