Anaru Moana murder trial

The story so far

A trial began in October 2025 for three men accused of murdering an Auckland teenager, whom the Crown says was killed over a kilogram of methamphetamine at a rural property; the defendants have maintained their innocence.^{28 Oct 2025} In November 2025 a jury found the three men guilty of premeditated murder. The teenager had disappeared in April 2023 and was later found buried underground.^{19 Nov 2025} Separately, a Christchurch High Court jury found three men guilty of murdering a man who disappeared in December 2021 and has never been found, while a fourth accused was found guilty of injuring with intent to injure and a fifth was acquitted.^{6 Nov 2025; 17 Dec 2025} In December 2025 the three men convicted in the Christchurch case were sentenced to life imprisonment.^{17 Dec 2025}

Latest

The most recent development is the life sentences handed to the three men in the Christchurch murder case.^{17 Dec 2025} The stories do not report a sentencing outcome for the three men convicted in the Auckland teenager's murder case.^{19 Nov 2025}

Key moments

1. 28 Oct 2025Trial begins for three men accused of murdering Auckland teenager.
2. 6 Nov 2025Christchurch jury finds three men guilty of murdering man who disappeared in 2021.
3. 19 Nov 2025Three men found guilty of premeditated murder of Auckland teenager.
4. 17 Dec 2025Three men in Christchurch case sentenced to life imprisonment.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.