David McNee's killer was involved in the violent burglary of a judge two years ago that was hushed up, according to TV3's 20/20 programme. Phillip Edwards allegedly confessed to breaking into the home of Judge Coral Shaw and her art curator husband Peter Shaw in September 2002, but the prosecution was dropped when Mr Shaw told police he did not want to give evidence at a trial. Mr Shaw's lawyer, John Haigh, QC, said last night his client was "violently attacked" and left traumatised by the burglary. "It was an aggravated burglary. He was assaulted and he did not want to go through the trauma of a trial." Mr Haigh said neither he nor Mr Shaw knew that Edwards had confessed to the burglary before it was reported last night. They were also unaware a promise had been made to Edwards by police that the incident would never be publicly disclosed, said Mr Haigh. TV3 claimed police threatened to prosecute the network if Mr Shaw was named, but Auckland police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said the comment about prosecuting TV3 was from one person and it was "not the view of the New Zealand Police".