Closing addresses in Tully trial delayed by a day
The jury in the trial of Ashburton murder accused Russell John Tully has been told to retain their “good spirits” and to keep their concentration up while the closing addresses have been delayed for a day.
“I cannot tell you any more than I have,” Justice Cameron Mander told the jury when it briefly came into the High Court at Christchurch at 3pm.
They had been sent away until 2.15pm after the court assembled for legal discussions during the morning.
Forty-nine-year-old Tully had declined on Friday to give evidence or call any witnesses after the Crown completed presentation of its case.
The trial was meant to hear closing addresses today, the ninth day of the trial, but the start was delayed to the afternoon by discussions.
Tully, 49, is on trial for the murders of Peggy Turuhira Noble and Susan Leigh Cleveland and the attempted murder of Lindy Louise Curtis and Kim Elizabeth Adams, in a shotgun shooting at the Ashburton Work and Income NZ office on September 1, 2014.
He is also charged with setting a man trap – a steel wire stretched between two trees – and unlawful possession of two shotguns.
The Crown has spent much of the last two weeks calling evidence of more than 70 witnesses.
“No doubt you have had a frustrating day,” said Justice Mander when the jury was brought into court and told that the trial would adjourn until 10am on Tuesday.
He said: “We are reaching a critical stage of the trial. I am anxious to avoid any misstep.”
It was important that the jury were “not provided with any information that is extraneous to your function”.
“Retain your good spirits and keep your concentration up and I wish you a good afternoon,” he said as the jury members left, and the court continued with more legal discussions.
Closing addresses by counsel are now expected to begin on Tuesday morning.
Category: News
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