Murder accused Antonie Dixon says he felt he had no choice
but to shoot a man at an Auckland service station after
having "biblical" visions and fearing for his life.
Dixon, 40, faces eight charges relating to incidents that
occurred in January 2003 when Renee Gunbie and Simonne Butler
were attacked with a samurai sword at Pipiroa near Thames and
James Te Aute was shot dead in Auckland.
Dixon was found guilty in 2005 on eight charges, including
murder and causing grievous bodily harm, but the Court of
Appeal later ordered a second trial, suppressing its reasons
for quashing the first.
Dixon told the High Court at Auckland how he and Ms Butler
had moved to Pipiroa to get away from Auckland, where he
believed he was being watched.
Their relationship became strained as Ms Butler struggled to
relate to Dixon, who was depressed and crying a lot and
turned to Ms Gunbie, who was living with them, for comfort.
"The voices told me she was going to have the chosen child
with me."
For two or three months leading up to the attack, Dixon said
he was taking up to a gram of P every week, as it helped to
balance him out, he said.
On the morning of the attack, God spoke to him, calling both
women Judases and instructing him to behead them.
God also gave him permission to turn the sword on himself, to
put it through his heart, he said.
He was excited because for months leading up to that day he
had hated himself and his life and wanted to die.
"It was the first day that God said that I would die with his
permission but I have to chop their heads off."
After waking up that morning Dixon went outside and that was
when he heard God's command.
Dixon said he brought a laundry basket down to catch their
heads in and reassured them before he attacked them that they
would be going to a better place.
Dixon said he had cut off their hands because they would not
kneel down so he could decapitate them.
He said he cried as he attacked Ms Gunbie because he realised
he was never going to have the chosen child with her.
After he attacked Ms Butler, he thought he may have made a
mistake but when she attempted to run away "voices" told him
it was proof that she was involved in the conspiracy.
He said he couldn't remember actually chopping up the women
but knows he did it.
Dixon left Pipiroa by car and on his way to Auckland he saw
two snipers in the back of an ambulance who were trying to
kill him.
At this stage he wanted to get a gun for protection, although
what he really wanted was a bomb, to protect himself from the
"new world order, police and the government".
"You just never know these days, it's just not a safe place."
Dixon eventually got a gun from a friend on a farm and smoked
P as he continued to Auckland.
At a Pakuranga service station he said he feared for his life
after an argument with several men, who were going to "waste
him" and thought they were "demonised".
"I just know I was afraid and there was no way I could take
all them on by myself."
Mr Te Aute had something concealed in his hands and came
across as a "gangster" and kept coming closer, making Dixon
frightened for his life.
"To me it was either me or him."
Just before Dixon shot Mr Te Aute he said he was having a
"biblical situation". He believed Mr Te Aute had horns in his
head.
"The only reason I went to the service station was to buy a
cookie crumble ice cream."
The trial continues tomorrow.
