Murder trial: Crown alleges Rachael Eddy killed friend Ross Kennedy in Tauranga reserve
Rachael Eddy is on trial in New Zealand for the murder of her friend Ross Kennedy following an argument at a campsite. The Crown alleges Eddy strangled Kennedy, while the defense points to her police statement claiming she accidentally caused his death by sitting on a tent covering him.
Why it matters
This case highlights the complexities of legal proceedings involving vulnerable populations and conflicting witness accounts in criminal justice.
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Rachael Eddy is on trial in the High Court at Rotorua for the murder of Ross Kennedy in October 2024. Photo / Kelly Makiha
A woman defending a murder charge told police she sat on a man through a tent until he stopped moving, a High Court jury has been told.
The Crown alleges Rachael Anne Eddy, 51, murdered her long-time friend, who was also homeless, Ross Kennedy, 63, after an argument.
Eddy’s trial began in the High Court at Rotorua yesterday before Justice Kiri Tahana.
The Crown alleged the murder happened at Eddy’s campsite in Gate Pā Reserve, Tauranga, early on October 4, 2024.
Crown prosecutor Emily O’Brien said in her opening address Eddy and Kennedy had spent the night before playing pokies at nearby Marble Bar from about 10pm.
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