Dunedin bus hub stabbing trial

The story so far

A 14-year-old boy, who was 13 at the time, went on trial in the Dunedin High Court in February and March 2025 charged with murdering a 16-year-old at a central Dunedin bus hub in May 2024.^{26, 27 Feb 2025; 4 Mar 2025} The defendant pleaded not guilty and claimed self-defence, testifying that he habitually carried a knife, had begun carrying one and watching fighting videos after experiencing bullying, and swung the knife wildly to drive the victim away.^{4, 5, 6 Mar 2025} A forensic psychologist told the court the defendant had adopted "gangster ways" while in a youth justice facility out of fear.^{10 Mar 2025} The Crown argued the boy was not acting in self-defence and had chosen to confront the victim after being called names.^{6, 12 Mar 2025} After the jury failed to reach a verdict at first, it later found the teenager guilty of manslaughter and acquitted him of murder.^{13, 17 Mar 2025}

Latest

The jury found the teenager guilty of manslaughter in the bus hub stabbing and acquitted him of murder.^{17 Mar 2025}

Key moments

1. 27 Feb 2025Jury is shown footage of the fight that preceded the fatal stabbing.
2. 6 Mar 2025Defendant tells court he was swinging a knife wildly to drive victim away.
3. 10 Mar 2025Forensic psychologist testifies about the defendant adopting a gangster persona in custody.
4. 12 Mar 2025Prosecutors reject the self-defence claim, arguing the stabbing was not self-defence.
5. 13 Mar 2025Jury fails to reach a verdict, and deliberations are set to continue.
6. 17 Mar 2025Teenager found guilty of manslaughter and acquitted of murder.

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