29 Mar 2021

Denver Chance murder trial: Jury retire for verdict

11:41 am on 29 March 2021

The jury in the trial of the man accused of shooting Denver Chance has retired to make its verdict.

Jay Christopher Lingman in the Auckland High Court.

Jay Lingman. Photo: RNZ/File photo

Jay Lingman denied murdering Chance, but has pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for supply.

The Crown argued the accused shot Chance three times in the head from behind, before using a chainsaw to cut the body to fit it in a chest freezer.

The defence case was that both men were drug dealers, and Lingman was acting in self-defence after Chance threatened him with a shotgun.

While summing up the case, Justice Melanie Harland told the jury there was no dispute that Lingman shot the bullets that killed Chance, but they needed to decide whether this was self-defence and reasonable use of force.

Denver Chance

Denver Chance. Photo: Supplied

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