Angry outbursts were heard from the public gallery of Palmerston North District Court yesterday afternoon as Ashley Arnopp, 20, one of the two young men accused of murdering gay Palmerston North man Stanley Waipouri last December, changed his plea to guilty. Andre Gilling fight began between the pair, deteriorating into an hour-long attack on Waipouri, lead to his death. The trial continues today for his co-accused Andre Gilling, 17, who maintains his innocence. On the night of the attack, Gilling said he saw Arnopp kick Waipouri, who had fallen asleep on the lounge floor of Waipouri's flat where they were socialising. After about five minutes, Waipouri no longer put his hand up to protect his head, Gilling said. Arnopp had asked Gilling to punch Waipouri, but Gilling said he shook him instead and urged him to get up. Gilling's facial injuries arose when he tripped over Waipouri's legs and smacked into a chair, giving himself a blackened eye and a cut nose. He denied any further involvement in the attack and said he had "no reason to kill him". Waipouri had offered the pair food and accommodation. Gilling said there were periods through that night when he slept on a table, and upon waking and seeing Waipouri bloodied body, he said he "freaked out". "I knew it was wrong," he said, but told police he was "too wasted" to do anything. Police medical officer Doctor Trevor Parry had given evidence saying Gilling had a lot of blood on his hands and legs, and cuts to his hands, face and feet. Evidence from 28 of the 29 witnesses had been heard as the trail entered its seventh day this morning.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Tuesday, 4th December 2007 - 2:42pm