Murder-accused Wayne Bracken has told a High Court jury Jack Davis was alive the last time he saw him with co-accused Neville Dangen at his Far North home.
Mr Davis was later killed with what the Crown say was a thistle grubber.
His body was found 30m down a bush-clad bank off the remote Wairakau walking track on the northern side of the Whangaroa Harbour, on February 25 last year.
Bracken, 35, and Neville Joseph Dangen, 24, are on trial for the murder and kidnapping of Mr Davis.
Records show the last time Mr Davis' phone was used was about midday on February 24.
"There isn't one text or one bit of phone usage that would suggest he was free and alive," Crown prosecutor Mike Smith told the court yesterday.
Bracken said he was with Dangen when they last saw Mr Davis and "Jack was fine".
When asked about different car movements on the day of Mr Davis' death, Bracken appeared to keep changing his answers.
"It might not make sense to you Mr Smith but it does to me," Bracken said.
Mr Smith asked Bracken if he thought all the drugs he had taken that day had muddled his brain.
Bracken responded: "You are the one trying to muddle my brain and trying to confuse me."
Supporters in the public gallery were given a final warning by Justice Edwin Wylie after he noted giggling following Bracken's answer. Last week someone was ejected from the public gallery after making gestures at Bracken.
During his evidence, Bracken said he had no gang affiliations despite confirming earlier in the trial he had attended a Hells Angels anniversary event wearing clothes with the Head Hunter logos on them.
Current Ngawha prison inmate Arthur Cornelius gave evidence yesterday and said two other witnesses had told him they lied in their statements to police.
Bracken said his half-brothers Fred and Kenneth - and his brother-in-law Mano Warmington - had got together and created a story. He said Bradley Johns and Melissa Cochrane had also done the same.
Bracken claimed the police had lied during the trial.
The trial continues.
- Northern Advocate
