Alleged knife attacker told of concerns, witnesses say
Witnesses have told of Jason William Baker expressing concern about something he had done around the time of a raid that the Crown says was a fatal attempt at a drug robbery in Rangiora last year.
They gave their evidence to the High Court in Christchurch where Baker, 40, of Linwood, and Shaun Robert Murray Innes, 37, of Rakaia deny charges of murder and wounding with intent to commit aggravated robbery.
The Crown is alleging that Baker wielded the knife that struck Tony John Lochhead in the neck, killing him, and caused several wounds to his brother, Peter Graham Lochhead, in the attack at the brothers’ home in White Street, Rangiora, on September 13, 2013.
The Crown has called witnesses who have told of comments made by Baker in conversation and by text around that time, and evidence about the drug-taking lifestyle that was going on.
A flatmate of Baker at an address in Cashel Street, Brent Terrance Leneveu, said both were using morphine about that time. His habit was costing him $30 a day and be believed Baker was using about the same amount.
He was not sure of the timing, but he spoke of Baker telling him, “I think I may have hurt someone.”
Mr Leneveu said: “I put my hand up and said, ‘I don’t want to know’.”
A woman, whose name was suppressed, told of her contact with Baker last September. Her car had been damaged by a falling tree in a wind storm and she had arranged to trade it for a silver Subaru Legacy plus $400. She had used the money to buy drugs.
The Crown alleges the car was used by Baker on the night of the killing at Rangiora and then abandoned along Christchurch’s Northern Motorway. The woman said that when Baker returned home, he told her she had to report the vehicle stolen.
She and Baker were using morphine at this time. Each would use up to 100mg a day, a habit costing up to $100 each, she said. On September 13, Baker also drank bourbon and shots, and took Rivotril.
The jury was shown a spreadsheet of text messages and phone calls related to the police investigation.
The woman said she had not sent a text message sent from a cellphone that she and Baker shared at the time. The message said: “I f–d up so bad. I don’t want to get into it right now.”
Innes’ defence team has said that he had left the scene of the attack as soon as the incident began and before there was any violence. Surveillance camera footage from businesses in Rangiora shows him going to two service stations in the main street and in Southbrook soon after the incident. Police and defence checks have shown that it takes between three and six minutes to cover the distance on foot to the first service station. The trial, before Justice Rachel Dunningham and a jury, is expected to take two weeks. Today was the trial’s third day.
Category: Focus
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