Jurors deciding whether Antonie Dixon is a murderer have taken a dinner break, four hours after beginning their deliberations.
The 11-person jury retired to consider their verdict just before 3pm at the beginning of the sixth week of the trial at the High Court in Auckland.
Dixon, 40, faces eight charges in connection with incidents over a 12-hour period between January 21 and 22, 2003.
The most serious charges are of murdering James Te Aute by shooting him in Auckland and of wounding Renee Gunbie and Simonne Butler with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in connection with an attack with a samurai sword in Pipiroa, near Thames.
Dixon also denies counts of kidnapping, twice discharging a firearm with intent, using a firearm against a police officer and aggravated burglary.
Dixon claims the murder came in the course of either self defence or provocation, and that he is insane.
The jury took a dinner break at 7pm and is due to resume deliberations about 8.15pm.
