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.