Trial begins for teens accused of killing American PhD student

The High Court at Auckland has begun the trial of four teenagers accused of the murder and aggravated robbery of American doctoral student Kyle Whorrall. Whorrall, a 33-year-old entomology student at the University of Auckland, was attacked at a Meadowbank bus stop on April 19, 2025. Prosecutors allege the victim was targeted during a ''snack run' and was struck in the head with a machete.

A fifth teenager, identified as K, has already pleaded guilty to both murder and aggravated robbery. Defence lawyer Paul Borich KC alleged during opening statements that K is the actual killer and used the machete.

The prosecution alleges the four defendants, aged 18 and 19, were in a black Mitsubishi Outlander that drove past the bus stop five times before the attack. Prosecutors claim the group formed a plan to rob Whorrall and that the defendants would have known the use of a machete could result in death.

A teenage witness testified that he saw two people attacking what he thought was an elderly woman with a baseball bat. The witness later realised the victim was Whorrall after seeing blood everywhere.

How it developed

• Tue 20 Oct, 1:37pmA teenage witness provided testimony regarding the assault and the presence of blood at the scene.
• Tue 20 Oct, 3:01pmThe witness clarified that he mistakenly thought the victim was an elderly woman due to the lighting and his perception of the victim's hair.

Where reports differ

• The witness initially believed the attackers were a man and a woman using a baseball bat, whereas prosecutors allege the attackers were male and used a machete
• The prosecution stated the car drove past the victim five times, while another report stated the vehicle made four U-turns

Compiled from reports by Stuff, NZ Herald, Otago Daily Times and RNZ.