The partner of Taranaki farmhand Aaron Roigard, who the Crown says was killed by his father, has spoken about the last time she saw him before he disappeared.
Opunake farmer David Roigard has been accused of his son's murder. Photo: POOL / Robert Charles / Fairfax NZ
Julie Thoms told the High Court in New Plymouth that Mr Roigard said goodbye to his two boys and waved as he pulled out of his drive, smoking a cigarette.
He was on his way to meet his father, Opunake farmer David Roigard, who is now on trial for his murder, to sign papers for a farm he thought he was buying.
The Crown said Mr Roigard killed his son on 2 June 2014 because he could no longer conceal the fact he had stolen about $60,000 from the younger man.
Aaron Roigard has not been seen since leaving his home and his body has not been found.
But his father told police the younger man had talked about killing himself before he disappeared.
Detective Guy Jackson took a statement from David Roigard two days after his son went missing.
Mr Roigard told him his son suffered from depression that he was not getting treatment for and had problems in his relationship, Mr Jackson said.
He told the detective Aaron talked about driving head-on into another vehicle or over cliffs at Pihama.
His defence team has denied a killing took place.
