The police have been accused of withholding information during the David McNee murder trial that would have resulted in a murder verdict rather than manslaughter, according to NZ First leader Winston Peters. Peters claims evidence was not presented in court that showed McNee's killer Phillip Edwards had known McNee for over three years, had converted McNee's car three years ago for three weeks, had chosen his rent boy occupation, and - contrary to the description used throughout the trial - was not homeless. 24-year-old Edwards is awaiting sentence after being found guilty of the manslaughter of Auckland interior designer David McNee, who was beaten to death in his St Marys Bay home in July last year. Edwards invoked the homosexual panic defence to contend that he lost control after McNee violated the boundaries of a paid sexual agreement between them. Edwards punched McNee up to fifty times in the face, spraying his room with blood, and left him to die choking on his own blood and vomit. The police refused to comment last night on the latest allegations, though a spokesman said they might make further comment after Edwards was sentenced next week.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 8th September 2004 - 12:00pm