18 Aug 2014

Man tried to hire hitman to kill parents

8:20 pm on 18 August 2014

A man charged with trying to hire a hitman to kill his parents had just had a significant falling out with his mother and father, the Crown says.

Alan Barlow, 43, is on trial in the High Court at Rotorua charged with attempting to procure murder in October 2013.

Crown lawyer Nick Belton told the court Mr Barlow took deliberate steps to hire someone to murder his parents. However, the hitman he tried to hire was an undercover police officer, and the conversation was secretly recorded.

"He indicates that he wants his parents out of his life, gone, finished with," Mr Belton told the court.

"When asked if he wants them killed, he nods."

Mr Belton said Mr Barlow initially offered to pay the hitman $150,000 to carry out the murder, which was prompted by a disagreement with his parents over the ownership of an Invercargill house.

Mr Barlow's lawyer, Craig Tuck, told the court no money ever changed hands.

He said the under cover officer was selling a murder, and that there was a salesman aspect to that.

The trial is continuing.