Waikato axe death: Rydell Martin jailed for man s extremely violent killing
6 May, 2021 10:05 PM
4 minutes to read
Police at the scene of Phillip Macpherson s death in Pukemiro, south-west of Huntly, in March 2019. Photo / Doug Sherring
Police at the scene of Phillip Macpherson s death in Pukemiro, south-west of Huntly, in March 2019. Photo / Doug Sherring
A man found guilty of killing a man with an axe in rural Waikato has been jailed for six years.
Rydell Martin was in March found not guilty of Phillip Macpherson s murder and instead found guilty by a jury of his manslaughter, in a decision which upset his family at the time who said striking someone with an axe was murder .
Jury in small town axe murder trial delivers manslaughter verdict
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Jury out in small town axe murder trial at High Court in Hamilton
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Rydell Tuaupiki Martin is facing a murder charge and an assault charge related to a fatal fight in Joseph St, Pukemiro, in north Waikato in March 2019.
The man accused of an axe murder in a north Waikato village says he only intended to knock a man over when he fatally struck him in a street-fight. Rydell Tuaupiki Martin, 27, is on trial for the murder of Phillip Macpherson. He has admitted to delivering the fatal axe blow in Pukemiro on March 1, 2019, but says he is only guilty of manslaughter. The defence has opened their case in the Hamilton High Court on Friday, with Martin giving evidence before the 10 jurors.