Alleged killer Googled ‘can fire destroy DNA’
Sainey Marong used Google to search ‘‘can fire destroy DNA?’’ a day after the burnt body of a woman he allegedly murdered was found. He then read an article titled ‘‘Crime experts say fires at murder scenes can’t destroy all clues’’.
Marong, a 33-year-old butcher from Ilam, is on trial in the High Court at Christchurch accused of murdering sex worker Renee Duckmanton on May 14, 2016. The 22-year-old’s half-naked and badly burnt body was found at a scrub fire on the side of a road near Rakaia about 7.30pm on May 15.
The Crown presented evidence yesterday about Marong’s internet search history in the months leading up to, and the days after, her death.
Detective Donavan Aitken said from March 2016, Marong searched what chemicals kidnappers used, how to kidnap someone, for escorts, how to track a phone and videos relating to kidnapping and raping women.
Aitken said Marong allegedly visited a pornography website for videos involving necrophilia. He read stories and Wikipedia entries about the murders of Christchurch prostitutes Suzie Sutherland in 2005 and Mellory Manning in 2008.
He read an article about murder victim Marcus Tucker’s body being found burnt and wrapped in carpet in a drain near Lake Ellesmere on April 25, 2016. On May 3, less than a fortnight before Duckmanton’s death, Marong read an article titled ‘‘25 methods for killing with your bare hands’’.
In the days after the alleged murder, Marong searched ‘‘can fire destroy DNA?’’; a news article about Duckmanton’s death; and the word ‘‘Sweeney’’, which is the surname of the officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Inspector Darryl Sweeney.
After his arrest, Marong was held in a prison at risk unit. A Corrections officer, who has interim name suppression, said Marong told him he ‘‘he knew he was caught’’ when police released the last-known image of Duckmanton and made comments they were on the cusp of an arrest.
Marong told him he ‘‘wanted to be executed’’ for what he did. He told the officer he had a wife and two children, but went ‘‘from a good person to committing the biggest sin’’.
Marong said he had only been in trouble with police for two speeding tickets and for allegedly following a girl in a car.
When asked why he followed the woman, Marong replied he had ‘‘developed a desire to kill’’, the officer said. The officer wrote bullet points about the conversation his notebook.
The officer told defence counsel Jonathan Krebs footage of the conversation had been recorded over and no longer existed. Krebs said Marong denied the conversation took place. Marong’s defence has cited ‘‘mental imbalance’’.