Slaying preceded dinner
A man who took part in killing Whanganui man James Butler sat down to a pork roast in front of Sunday night television afterwards.
Mark Robert Audain pleaded guilty in the High Court at Whanganui yesterday to Butler’s manslaughter. Butler, 53, died after being shot at his Whanganui home on April 22, 2018.
Audain was tried with five others last year for Butler’s murder, but that trial could not be completed because of the coronavirus lockdown. At the beginning of the trial, he pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice after the shooting by altering the appearance of a vehicle.
The trial heard from Audain’s parents, who said he went home and ate a home-cooked pork roast while watching Country Calendar after Butler was shot. Many facts relating to Audain’s crimes cannot be reported as one co-accused, Wayne David Reardon, still awaits trial.
Many other co-accused have already pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Audain’s plea comes the day after Hikitia Rawiri Hakaraia was jailed for his role in Butler’s death and the manslaughter of another Whanganui man, Kevin Ratana.
Audain is in custody until his sentencing next month.