Helen Gregory murder trial: Why police didn't buy Julia DeLuney's accident claim
Julia DeLuney in the High Court.
Photo:
RNZ / Mark Papalii
A detective giving evidence in the DeLuney trial says inconsistencies in the accused's story led police had to investigate the death as a manslaughter, rather than an accident.
Julia DeLuney is accused of murdering her 79-year-old mother, Helen Gregory, and the trial, expected to take at least four weeks, is in its fourth day.
The Crown's case is that DeLuney violently attacked her mother on the evening of 24 January 2024, at Gregory's home in Khandallah.
But the defence claims Gregory fell from the attic, and while DeLuney left her in a bedroom to drive back to her Kāpiti home to collect her husband Antonio DeLuney to help - as her mother didn't like hospitals - a third person caused those fatal injuries.
The defence's case is that police investigation developed "tunnel vision" in its pursuit of DeLuney, and it failed to properly investigate other options.
Under cross examination by defence lawyer Quentin Duff, Detective Sergeant Guilia Boffa said police were told Gregory'd had a fall, but things didn't add up.
"And there was information that was important that was missing from the accounts that were being provided around changing clothing and a number of areas travelled to that we were picking up that we were not being told about."
Namely, she stopped at a petrol station and, the Crown asserts, changed clothes a number of times that evening.
Detective Constable Kristina O'Connor, under cross examination for the second time after previously guiding the jury through a virtual walk-through of the address, began telling the court about her methodical search of the property for disturbances in the greenery or objects out of place.
Her evidence continues this afternoon.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
Fishermen caught with more than 1800 pāua in Porirua facing charges
A fifth of the1863 pāua fishery officers discovered on a vessel. Photo: Supplied / Fisheries New Zealand A pair of fishers are likely to face charges after being caught with more than 1800 pāua in Porirua. The pāua was seized by fishery officers based in Wellington earlier this week. "While inspecting a vessel shortly after it landed at Titahi Bay on Tuesday afternoon, fishery officers discovered 1863 pāua, which had already been shucked," Fisheries New Zealand regional Manager Phil Tasker said. The estimated retail value of the pāua was approximately $25,000. Tasker said it was one of the biggest hauls of illegally harvested pāua in recent times. "There is a maximum daily limit of five pāua per fisher in this area, which gives some context to the scale of this offending, and the potential damage it could do to the pāua population." The case is still under investigation, but Tasker said the two men in possession of the shellfish were likely to face charges under the Fisheries Act. He said it was incredibly disappointing to see offending of this scale. "This fishery is a shared resource, and the rules are there to protect its sustainability for everyone. Our message for those who think they can steal this shared resource is that we will pursue offending and there will be consequences." Tasker said most fishers wanted to follow the rules. "The best way to stay on top of the rules for the area you're fishing or gathering shellfish in is to download the free NZ Fishing Rules mobile app," he said. The Ministry for Primary Industries encouraged people to report suspected illegal activity through the ministry's 0800 4 POACHER number (0800 47 62 24). Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
Chilean brothers arrested at Auckland hotel after allegedly importing cocaine
Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi Two Chilean brothers were arrested at an Auckland hotel overnight after allegedly importing about 6 kilograms of cocaine into New Zealand last weekend. The men, Patricio Andres Castillo Castro, 26, and his older brother, Fabian Alonso Castillo Castro, 34, are jointly charged with importing cocaine into New Zealand on June 21. They are also charged with possessing cocaine for supply when they were arrested on Thursday night. Both charges carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Detective Inspector Tom Gollan said in a statement to RNZ the pair arrived in New Zealand last week. The National Organised Crime Group had been carrying out inquiries this week. "On Thursday, a search warrant was carried out in a central Auckland hotel room where the pair were staying. "During the search warrant, around six kilograms of cocaine was located and seized." Police are unable to comment further while the matter is before the Court. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
Loafers Lodge fire: First manslaughter accused named as Marie Louise Murphy
A fire at the Wellington Loafers Lodge accommodation on 16 May 2023 killed five of the building's 92 residents. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone A woman involved with the management and operations at Loafers Lodge where a fire killed five people, and one of four people charged with manslaughter, can now be named. Marie Louise Murphy, 70, appeared at the High Court in Wellington on Friday morning. She pleaded not guilty to all charges through her counsel and did not seek continued name suppression. A second defendant, 75, who still has name suppression, appeared alongside her and also pleaded not guilty to all charges. Police have charged four people in total, who they allege were responsible for aspects of the building's fire safety systems. Flames seen in the top storey of the Loafers Lodge accommodation in Adelaide Road, Wellington on 16 May 2023 . Photo: Supplied / Axel Dann Each faces 10 charges of manslaughter, with two charges relating to each of the five victims. Gregory Bruce Mein, 73, and another defendant, 58, who is also subject to name suppression, have previously pleaded not guilty to the charges. All four defendants are remanded on bail. A trial is currently expected to go ahead in late 2026. Separately, a man, 50, who has name suppression, was charged with murder and arson. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and is due to stand trial in August. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
