1 Aug 2008

Dixon jury resumes deliberations

6:09 pm on 1 August 2008

The jury in the trial of a samurai swordsman accused of murder and maiming resumed deliberations at the High Court in Auckland on Friday.

Antonie Dixon, 40, is accused of murdering James Te Aute in Auckland and seriously wounding two women with a samurai sword near Thames in 2003.

The jury of six men and five women began its deliberations shortly before 3pm on Thursday.

Earlier, Justice Williams took almost four hours to summarise complex legal arguments in the case. Much of that time was spent telling the jury how to consider the issue of insanity.

The defence has argued Mr Dixon was insane on the day of the attacks, but the Crown says he carried out intentional and calculated crimes.