Ellerslie double murder trial

The story so far

A man went on trial in Auckland over the November 2023 murders of a man and woman at their Ellerslie home, with prosecutors alleging the killings were part of a revenge plan after a minor traffic accident and a Disputes Tribunal case.^{31 Aug} The accused also faced a charge of conspiracy to murder.^{1 Sep} The couple's son told the court how he found his father dead and his mother missing at the family home.^{1 Sep} A security-camera incident was reported during the trial: cameras at a victim's home of an alleged murder plot had been painted over.^{2 Sep} A man who had pleaded guilty to the murders testified in the Auckland High Court that the accused coerced him into taking part, and he later denied it was his own desire to kill the couple.^{9 Sep}

Latest

The accused was found guilty of murdering the couple at their Ellerslie home in 2023, and was also found to have been involved in an unrealised plot to kill his former landlord.^{28 Sep} Separately, a 32-year-old man, whose name and occupation are suppressed, was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice in an Auckland homicide investigation, though the story does not say whether this is linked to the Ellerslie case.^{23 Sep}

Key moments

1. 31 AugTrial opens over the Ellerslie double murder, with prosecutors alleging a revenge plan.
2. 1 SepThe couple's son describes finding his father dead and his mother missing.
3. 2 SepSecurity cameras at a victim's home found painted over.
4. 9 SepMan who pleaded guilty testifies the accused coerced him into the killings.
5. 28 SepAccused found guilty of the double murder and of an unrealised plot against his former landlord.

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