High Court Witness Testifies 16-Year-Old Bragged About Girl’s Death Before It Became Public
In a murder trial at the High Court in Auckland, a witness recounted a chilling interaction with a now 21-year-old defendant who allegedly bragged about a girl’s death before it became public knowledge. The witness, Josiah Rolleston, testified that he overheard the defendant and a 14-year-old accomplice discussing the murder of Dimetrius Pairama. According to Rolleston, the defendant stated, Do you know Demitri? Yeah, we killed that bitch.
The harrowing crime took place in July 2018 when 17-year-old Pairama was allegedly tortured and killed in an abandoned state home in Māngere. Prosecutors claim that she was repeatedly punched and stomped, forceably stripped, tied to a chair, burned with a makeshift blowtorch, and had household chemicals poured onto her body. Ultimately, she was given the grim choice of death by hanging or stabbing.
Two individuals, Ashley Winter and Kerry Te Amo, were previously found guilty of the crime. The ongoing trial involves the final defendant, who was 16 years old at the time. Both the current defendant and a 14-year-old accomplice, who acted as a lookout during the murder, have been granted name suppression.
The defense for the current defendant asserts that she was present during the crime and engaged in some of the torture, but did not actively participate in Pairama’s murder. They argue that she only went along with the crime due to fear and coercion from the dominant older co-defendant, Ashley Winter. However, Josiah Rolleston’s testimony contradicts this claim. He stated that the defendant and her accomplice showed no remorse or fear during their conversation with him, indicating their awareness of their wrongdoing.
During cross-examination, the defense pointed out discrepancies between Rolleston’s current recollection of the conversation and his initial police statement from five years ago. Rolleston agreed that there were slight differences, but insisted that his memory had improved over time. He expressed his shock and fear upon realizing that he had encountered murderers, emphasizing the defendants’ lack of guilt or remorse.
Testimony in the trial continues before Justice Kiri Tahana and the jury. As the case unfolds, the court will seek to establish the level of involvement and culpability of the current defendant in the brutal murder of Dimetrius Pairama.
