A man who was stabbed outside the Invercargill courthouse said he did not expect a dangerous situation to unfold that night.
Naya Ropiu Fabian Wharekura, 29, is on trial in the High Court at Invercargill defending charges of murdering Chad Terrance Parekura and attempting to murder Austin Jazz McGregor on April 23, 2022.
He earlier pleaded guilty to alternative charges of manslaughter and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The Crown said Wharekura stabbed the two men outside the Invercargill courthouse after he ripped off Mr McGregor in a drug deal. The Crown alleged Wharekura intended to kill the two men when he attacked them.
The defence said the jury could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt Wharekura had murderous intent.
Earlier, the jury watched CCTV footage of the defendant lunging at Mr Parekura and stabbing him in his side before attacking Mr McGregor in the same way.
Yesterday, Mr McGregor explained he thought he was going out to the street to get the money he was owed.
"I thought ... [Wharekura] was going to be a man of his word and give what he said he was going to give," Mr McGregor said.
"I never would’ve put my friends in danger."
Mr McGregor heard someone say "move back, he’s got a knife" seconds before he was attacked.
He was stabbed about an inch away from his heart and the knife punctured his lung and fractured his rib, he said.
"I felt like I was losing something inside me. I felt fear, and I thought I was going to die," Mr McGregor said.
Earlier in the night he had arranged to sell some MDMA to his friend.
Mr McGregor got into the car when it parked outside Tillermans Nightclub, where the friend, Wharekura and another person were.
Wharekura asked to look at the drugs and Mr McGregor handed them over.
Mr McGregor said the defendant refused to pay him and would not give the drugs back.
He and Wharekura left the car.
"He was walking toward me like he wanted to fight me. I felt threatened," Mr McGregor said.
"I just left. He’s a lot bigger than me, so I was a bit afraid of the guy."
Counsel Sonia Vidal showed Mr McGregor CCTV footage of him smiling at the bouncer moments after the drug deal took place.
"Rather than being scared ... you were more than happy at the time," Ms Vidal said.
"[Because] one way or another you were going to get your money from the defendant."
Mr McGregor denied that and said he was glad to see the bouncer, who was his friend.
Justice Paul Radich is presiding over the trial, which is expected to hear from 32 Crown witnesses and last two weeks.
