A murder accused sent messages to the victim’s mother saying she would let her know if she heard anything about Dale Watene’s death.
Sandy Maree Graham (32) is charged with his murder at Otautau on April 16, 2020.
George Ivor Hyde (24) is charged with accessory after the fact to murder at Otautau between April 16 and 27, 2020.
Mr Watene’s body was found about a month after he went missing, in the Longwood Forest buried in a shallow grave.
On Monday, Graham’s lawyer, Sarah Saunderson-Warner, said Mr Watene had been shot but it was not done on purpose nor with murderous intent.
Yesterday, jurors heard that about a week after his death, Graham sent Christine Watene, Mr Watene’s mother, a friend request and began messaging her.
Mrs Watene cried as Crown solicitor Mary-Jane Thomas read out the messages sent between the two women on April 23.
Initially, Graham asked if Mrs Watene was OK.
"This is so messed up do you have any idea on really where he could be. Everything’s messed up and it’s not like Dale to do this," Graham said.
Mrs Watene replied she was feeling hopeless, then said her son seemed fine when she talked to him on the morning of April 16.
The pair talked about Mr Watene and what might have potentially happened to him, with both saying they did not believe he would hurt himself.
Graham’s first written statement was read out and part of her first police interview played in court yesterday.
On May 6, 2020 police searched Graham’s house saying they were now treating Mr Watene’s disappearance as a homicide inquiry.
In the video interview conducted by Sergeant Frederick Shandley on the same day, Graham said the couple had met in September 2019 and started a relationship, but it ended in December when Graham found a methamphetamine pipe in Mr Watene's bag.
The pair continued to have a sexual relationship after December, she said.
A Police Safety Order was issued just weeks before Mr Watene’s death after police were called to escort him from Graham’s property when he got possessive about Graham’s previous boyfriend.
However, when the order expired, the pair resumed contact with one another.
Telecommunications information showed Mr Watene had spent the days before he went missing at Graham’s address and on a trip away from the house with her. However, she said she could not remember him being at her house or on that trip.
The trial continues today.
