Wilkinson was found two weeks after going missing with wounds likely made by a machete. Moananui represented himself at trial with the help of an amicus curiae, a court-appointed lawyer. He made various legal challenges against the case, including one after he was convicted following the jury trial. The final challenge was an application for a judicial review, which Moananui intended to serve on Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy, Attorney-General David Parker and more. But they never got that far, with a registrar putting it before Justice Francis Cooke, QC, to be considered. The judge struck out the proceeding without hearing any legal arguments, finding it was an abuse of process.
Wilkinson and Rowe were allegedly assaulted in Ashhurst in September 2019 before being taken to Bunnythorpe, where Wilkinson’s body was found about two weeks later. The Crown says the defendants attacked the duo with weapons while kicking them out of the Mongrel Mob, taking them to Bunnythorpe to present them to a drug dealer they robbed. The number of defendants and charges mean the jury has to come up with at least 25 different verdicts. That number would get even longer if they find defendants not guilty of murder, as they then would have to consider if defendants were guilty or not of manslaughter.
Detective Sergeant Shelley Ross was second-in-charge of the investigation into Wilkinson’s death, dubbed Operation Kentucky. She told the trial Wilkinson’s disappearance was initially a missing person inquiry, but work began setting up a homicide investigation on September 23, 2019. That involved getting Wilkinson’s bank records, which showed he usually withdrew his benefit money as soon as it was paid into his account. However, he did not withdraw it when it was paid on September 11 and 18, 2019 – something Ross said raised suspicions.
Murray Wilson/Stuff Ross was asked about her involvement in giving immunity to Krystal Hewitt. She was involved in parts of the robbery, including dividing the proceeds and hiding a firearm used during the crime.
Codi Wilkinson would have died within an hour of suffering wounds as deep as his bones stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.