The jury in the Stanley Waipouri murder retrial has retired to consider its verdict.
Andre Gilling, 18, has pleaded not guilty in the High Court in Palmerston North to murdering Mr Waipouri, who was found dead in his flat in the city in 2006.
A jury at Gilling's first trial last year failed to reach a verdict.
Gilling's co-accused Ashley Arnopp pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Waipouri and jailed for life with a minimum non-parole period of 15 years.
The prosecution alleged that the three men had been drinking, smoking cannabis and taking party pills before Arnopp and Gilling carried out a "sustained and ferocious" attack on Mr Waipouri at his Rangitikei Street flat.
The 39-year-old was found naked from the waist down, with injuries to his head and neck, and various internal injuries. The tip of his penis had been removed.
Justice Terence Arnold told the jury today that although Arnopp pleaded guilty, it did not mean Gilling was also guilty.
The jury retired shortly before midday.
