Accused in Aim case points to gang prospect

The 15-year-old youth charged with the murder of Scottish tourist Karen Aim in Taupo told a security guard a Rotorua gang prospect had bashed her, Taupo Youth Court heard today.

The security guard, Lee Herewini, had been involved in the discovery of a dying Miss Aim early on January 17 in the grounds of Taupo Nui A Tia College.

He had called police after finding someone had smashed a number of windows at the school. While he and an officer drove around the school grounds, another found Ms Aim, severely beaten on a street near one of the school's boundaries.

Miss Aim, 26, had been walking home after a night out with friends in Taupo's town centre. She died soon after the attack.

The youth charged with her murder at a depositions hearing this week was 14 at the time.

Mr Herewini told the court today he knew the youth and had spoken to him the day after Miss Aim's death.

"He asked me if I had heard about the girl who had been hurt at the college.

"I said `yes'.

"He said he knew the person who had done it."

The youth said a "guy" called Brian from Rotorua, who was a Mongrel Mob prospect, had carried out the attack. "Brian" had hit Miss Aim over the head with a baseball bat and was planning to throw her in the Waikato River, but there was too much traffic, he said.

Mr Herewini said the youth later told him that "Brian" had been to his house, borrowing both a bicycle and a baseball bat.

A baseball bat was recovered from under the house where the youth was living and the distinctive bicycle was also found there.

Forensic scientists have also been outlining their findings as a result of sampling evidence at the scene where Miss Aim was found, and at the house where the youth was living.

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