A man who had been drinking with seven people charged over the death of a South Auckland liquor store owner says they drank the stolen alcohol as police helicopters circled overhead.
Navtej Singh, 30, died from a single gunshot wound to his stomach the day after his Manurewa liquor store was robbed at gunpoint on 7 June 2008.
Anitelea Chan-Kee, Tino Felise, Eti Filoa, Walter McCarthy, Myron Felise and Jason Naseri are charged with murdering Mr Singh and aggravated robbery.
Mefiposeta Chan-Kee is charged with being an accessory to murder.
The Crown says six men are charged with murder but CCTV footage shows that Anitelea Chan-Kee pulled the trigger of the rifle.
On Thursday, the jury at the High Court in Auckland was told that on the day of the attack a group of about 15 men were drinking after a child's birthday party at the home of Fred Pelu Va.
Mr Va told the court he heard Anitelea Chan-Kee suggest that the group do a run to a liquor store.
He says some of the partygoers returned later with alcohol, which everyone drank as a police helicopter circled above and sirens could be heard in the neighbourhood.
Fred Va says he did not know about the robbery until the following night when he recognised some of the partygoers from CCTV footage on the evening news.
Another Crown witness, Moana Va, also attended the party and told the court he asked Anitelea Chan-Kee what had happened after the accused returned to the house.
Moana Va says Mr Chan-Kee seemed normal and told him the store owner was alright and that he had only shot him in his shoulder.
