A Nelson man has told how Liam James Reid came to a marina there and asked around -- even putting a notice on the board -- for passage to Australia.
Kenneth Andrew pointed out Reid today in the High Court at Christchurch, where the 36-year-old is on trial for the murder of Christchurch woman Emma Louise Agnew, who disappeared on November 15 last year.
Mr Andrew said Reid was tanned and wearing a beanie hat. He had tattoos and was foul-mouthed when he came to the marina on November 17, the Christchurch Court News website reported.
He approached Mr Andrew as well as Burton Shipley, the husband of former prime minister Jenny Shipley.
"He came up and asked if we would take him to Australia. Said he was looking for passage. He asked both of us," Mr Andrew said.
"He said if I took him he would pay for my fuel. I thought that was hilarious. He introduced himself to me as Liam."
Mr Andrew asked why he didn't fly because it was cheaper and Reid said he could not get a passport because he was in trouble with the law.
He asked Mr Andrew if he would drop him off a mile offshore and he would get somebody in Australia to meet him. He said he had family there.
Both men declined the request. Mr Andrew later showed the police a notice on the marina kiosk notice board from someone wanting to work his passage to Australia. It was from someone named Liam, and gave a cellphone number.
A Dunedin woman who knew Reid professionally told of contacting him on November 12 in Dunedin soon after his release from Waikari Hospital.
Reid said he was waiting for a text to say whether his relationship with his partner was still on.
She arranged to meet him later in the day, when he told her he would be gone if the relationship was over.
"He said if he dies it would be a blessing. Better that he goes instead of what could happen to anybody else because of something he might do to them," said the woman, who has name suppression.
Forensic pathologist Dr Martin Sage told of examining the body of Emma Agnew where it was found at Spencer Park and later doing the post mortem.
There was a deep tissue bruise on the side of her neck which could have come from a punch or kick, a blow with an instrument, a fall, or an attempt at throttling.
She had a sock stuffed in the back of her throat which had forced her tongue backwards and completely blocked her airway.
There was no damage to the larynx which sometimes accompanies throttling.
Dissection showed a deep bruise to the genitals, a blunt force injury, which was unusual in cases of sexual assault, and extremely unusual when consenting sex occurred.
A kick or punch to the genital area could have caused the injury.
Reid denies charges of raping and murdering Miss Agnew, and raping, sexually violating, robbing, and attempting to murder a 21-year-old woman in Dunedin nine days later.
The trial before Justice Lester Chisholm and a jury is expected to take at least a month, with the Crown calling evidence from 106 witnesses.
