Source: Radio New Zealand
Michael Scott Rodger is accused of murdering Richard Leman. RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon
A High Court jury has retired to consider its verdict in the case of a man accused of murdering and dismembering Canterbury father-of-three Richard Leman.
Michael Scott Rodger, 46, is accused of murdering Leman, 41, whose body was found in the boot of his own car parked at an abandoned house in Tyler Street in Rangiora in April 2023.
Leman’s torso was found in the car but his head, legs and arms are still missing.
Rodger denies shooting or killing Leman.
In summing up on Tuesday, Justice Eaton told jurors the evidence of key Crown witnesses Morgan Grant and Sara Plimmer was disputed by Rodger’s lawyers, who claimed the pair lied during the trial.
“The Crown case is that Ms Grant and Ms Plimmer have both given in evidence a truthful, reliable account as to who shot and killed Richard Leman,” he said.
“That is very much contested by the defence and [the Crown] responsibly acknowledges that it will be appropriate for you to exercise real caution when you come to assess the evidence by those two because of everything that has surfaced in this trial.”
In 2024, Grant pleaded guilty to a charge arising from the investigation into Leman’s death, although the details remain suppressed.
Eaton explained to jurors that the onus was on the Crown to prove Rodger’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The Crown argued the objective evidence, including CCTV and telecommunication footage and forensics, proved Rodger was responsible.
Rodger’s lawyers said there was reasonable doubt about who killed Leman and the Crown’s two key witnesses were unreliable.
Defence lawyer Ethan Huda accused the Crown of being underhanded and dishonest by omitting key evidence from a pathologist during closing arguments.
The jury retired to deliberate on Tuesday afternoon.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
