15 Dec 2015

Man planned son's killing, court told

7:07 pm on 15 December 2015

The jury in the trial of a Taranaki farmer accused of killing his son has been told his death was a premeditated and well thought-out murder.

David Noel Roigard

David Noel Roigard Photo: POOL / Robert Charles / Fairfax NZ

In her closing address at the High Court in New Plymouth, Crown prosecutor Cherie Clarke said David Roigard killed his son Aaron to cover up stealing more than $66,000 from him over almost 10 years.

Ms Clarke said there was strong circumstantial evidence implicating Mr Roigard and he had repeatedly lied.

She told the jury there was no body because Mr Roigard had taken months to plan the murder and disposal of his son's body.

There did not need to be a body to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he had killed his son, Ms Clarke said.

Aaron Roigard, a 27-year-old father of two, was last seen near Waiteika Rd in Opunake in June last year following a family disagreement.

His bank account and cellphone have not been used since, and extensive land, sea and air searches have failed to locate him.

David Roigard's wife Pamela and his daughter Aimee have said they did not see or hear anything unusual on the day Aaron went missing.

Ms Clarke said Pamela's evidence was at best unreliable and evasive, and accused Aimee of telling lies in the witness box.

The defence team will give its closing tomorrow followed by Justice Heath's summing up.

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