2PM: The jury trial of two young men accused of killing gay man Stanley Waipouri is due to begin in the Palmerston North High Court tomorrow. Ashley Benjamin Arnopp, 20, and Andre Gilling, 18, were charged with murder after Waipouri's beaten and bloody body was discovered on 23rd December last year. In a June 15 depositions hearing a forensic pathologist described extensive head, neck and facial injuries sustained by Waipouri, but was unable to indicate the exact cause of death, which appears to have been the result of numerous 'blunt force' blows to the head, face and neck. The pathologist said there was also some evidence of possible strangulation amongst Waipouri's many injuries. Witnesses have already testified at a depositions hearing that Waipouri was killed after one of the accused discovered the other having sex with Waipouri. Waipouri, originally from South Auckland, was a well-known member of the Palmerston North gay community who was known to invite strangers back to his flat. If found guilty of murder or manslaughter, Arnopp and Gilling face a nine year to life sentence.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Sunday, 25th November 2007 - 3:21pm