Defence has opted not to call witnesses or give evidence in the trial of Kim Richmond's death, claiming they have "nothing to prove".
Cory Jefferies admits he killed his partner Kim Richmond, but the question remains: was it murder or manslaughter? On Friday, the jury will be asked to decide - and intent is the key question.
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"Being sure is not he might have meant to kill her, or even probably meant to kill her, or that he very likely meant to kill her," said defence lawyer Thomas Sutcliffe.
The defence opted not to call witnesses or give evidence, with Mr Sutcliffe simply closing the case directly after the prosecution.
"Whatever happened on that short journey on the way home was clearly, in my submissions to you, unscripted. There can be no other explanation for it. A spontaneous event with terrible consequences."
Ms Richmond, 42, went missing after a night out watching the rugby in the small town of Arohena in July 2016. Her body wasn't found until almost a year later, when cell phone data led police to Lake Arapuni.
Crown prosecutor Ross Douch argued that Jefferies' behaviour that night and in the months following, when he lied to both the police and his children, was that of a guilty man.
But the defence rejects this, claiming the guilt of manslaughter would have resulted in the same reaction. With the pathologist report showing no injuries as a result of substantial force, Mr Sutcliffe says the prosecution's case falls well short of proving the intent to kill beyond reasonable doubt.
The Crown is now relying on the weight of alleged death threats made by Jefferies to his partner's lover, their neighbour Alfons Te Brake.
"Simple, isn't it?" said Mr Douch. "The defendant said to Mr Te Brake, 'I want to f**king kill the bitch', and what did he by his own admission do? He f**king killed the bitch."
The jury is set to start considering its verdict tomorrow.
Newshub.
