Naya Ropiu Fabian Wharekura, 29, was on trial before the High Court at Invercargill for the stabbing of Chad Terrance Parekura and Austin Jazz McGregor.
During the two-week-long case, the court heard evidence that on the night of April 23 in 2022, drug-dealer McGregor sat in the back seat of the defendant's car outside Tillermans nightclub in Don St, Invercargill, to sell him MDMA.
Wharekura took the drugs but didn’t hand over the money owed and there were some words exchanged outside the car before the defendant drove off to an address in Crawford St.
McGregor returned to his friends, including Parekura, in the nightclub and told them he had been ripped off.
After phone calls and messages between the defendant’s camp and those at Tillermans, Wharekura agreed to return to pay for the drugs.
Crown prosecutor Sarah McKenzie said this drug-deal was always meant to be a “stand over” and the now-convicted murderer never intended to pay for the drugs.
She said on the way out of the house, Wharekura selected a 180mm boning knife and concealed it in the car.
Counsel John Westgate said McGregor manipulated Parekura, who was shown on CCTV bouncing on his feet and shadowboxing, into going downstairs.
When the two parties met on the street, Mr Westgate accepted “there was aggression in the air”.
A witness gave evidence that after one of Wharekura’s friends was punched by the deceased, an associate turned to the defendant and told him: “this is your s***, you need to sort it out”.
CCTV footage showed Wharekura running up to Parekura, fatally stabbing him once with the knife and then wounding McGregor, who was rushed to hospital with a fractured rib and punctured spleen.
Of the first stabbing, the surviving victim said: “It was a kill shot, only a butcher would know what that is.”
Last year while awaiting trial, Wharekura went on the run and breached his electronic bail conditions in the Waikato.
He handed himself in to the Hamilton police two weeks later and has remained in custody since.
The defendant was before the court for the same charges in February, but it was abandoned on the second day of evidence.
In the public gallery, Parekura's family stayed relatively still with their eyes cast down and bowed their heads.
Justice Paul Radich thanked the jury and told them they were welcome to attend the sentencing in May next year.
Counsel Sonia Vidal said a Wharekura family member may wish to address the court by way of a cultural report at that time.
