A man left an Invercargill nightclub in an agitated state moments before he was stabbed, a jury has heard.
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.
Yesterday he pleaded guilty to alternative charges of manslaughter and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Wharekura stabbed the two men outside the Invercargill courthouse after he under-paid Mr McGregor in a drug deal.
The Crown alleged Wharekura intended to kill the two men when he attacked them.
Counsel John Westgate argued the jury could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that his client had murderous intent.
On Monday 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, an employee at Tillermans Nightclub said she was working her first shift on the night of the stabbings.
She was aware that Mr McGregor was a drug dealer, and told police she saw him leave the building shortly before the stabbing.
"He seemed a bit agitated," she told police.
"I remember he was telling his girlfriend they needed to leave, and he didn’t finish his last drink."
Conquest Hadfield gave evidence about celebrating his birthday with Mr Parekura on April 22, 2022.
He was drinking before heading to a pub and was at a club when someone came upstairs to tell him Mr Parekura had been stabbed.
Earlier in the day, counsel Sonia Vidal played CCTV footage of the two victims inside Tillermans Nightclub in the hours before the incident.
She described highlighted a moment when Mr Parekura held up his hand in a "C" shape before his acquaintance across the room responded with the same gesture.
Detective Jenna Croton accepted that Mr Parekura was associated with the Crips gang, but was not sure whether the man who made the gesture back was.
Ms Vidal also pointed out two of Mr Parekura and Mr McGregor’s associates were looking at something on a phone and "shadow-boxing".
Justice Paul Radich is presiding over the trial, which is expected to hear from 32 Crown witnesses and last two weeks.
