An Auckland jury will start considering tomorrow whether a man who fatally shot his mate in the chest earlier this year is guilty of murder.
Alan Christopher Paul Gundry, 30, is on trial in the High Court in Auckland for the murder of Gene Patrick Atkins, 28.
The judge's summing up at the end of the seven-day trial ended late this afternoon, after which jurors were sent home rather than asked to begin deliberations this evening. They will return at 9.30am tomorrow.
Yesterday the jury was told that Atkins "reared up like a lion" after Gundry, 30, shot him twice with his pig-hunting rifle on January 12 this year.
Crown prosecutor Kevin Glubb said in his closing address at the trial Mr Atkins died as an inevitable, tragic consequence of drinking and violence, the Stuff website reported today.
He said the men had been friends for many years.
The court was told the dead man had become drunk, had a row with his girlfriend and left the Gundry house in Rodney, north of Auckland, without her.
He returned and during a dispute Gundry loaded his rifle with six rounds and shot Mr Atkins twice in the chest, Mr Glubb said.
Mr Atkins had been advancing on Gundry and yelling at him he was going "to f*** him up", the court was told.
Gundry's lawyer Graeme Newell said earlier he fired in self-defence.
