The defence has opened its case at the trial of a man accused of killing a Palmerston North drug dealer whose body has never been found.
Stephen Hudson, 39, is charged with murdering Nicholas Pike near the Desert Road in central North Island in March 2002.
The Crown has told Wellington High Court that the accused killed Nicholas Pike over a drug debt and because Mr Pike informed on him to police.
Defence lawyer Mike Antunovic said on Friday the critical issue for the jury to decide was where was Stephen Hudson on 18 March 2002, the day the murder is said to have occurred.
Mr Antunovic said defence witnesses will testify that Mr Hudson was with his family in Masterton at that time.
Mr Hudson's sister told the court that her brother arrived at her home on 15 March 2002 and she remembers that date because her friend had had a baby the day before.
