The Crown says a man accused of a hit-and-run murder in a South Auckland carpark must have seen his victim yelling at him before he chose to accelerate into her.
Christopher Shadrock is on trial for the murder of Joanne Wang, 39, who struggled to stop her handbag from being stolen in Westfield shopping centre carpark in Manukau in June 2008.
Five other men are charged with being accessories to murder, accused of helping Mr Shadrock hide evidence or avoid arrest.
The Crown began its case in the Auckland High Court on Monday, telling the jury the men were a gang of thieves preying on shoppers in the carpark that day.
Prosecutor Christine Gordon said Mr Shadrock, 23, tried to steal Mrs Wang's handbag and when she would not give up, he tried to get away.
When Mr Shadrock's reverse escape was blocked by another car, he chose to drive forward and hit Mrs Wang instead, the court was told.
The Crown says Mr Shadrock must have seen his victim yelling at him before he chose to accelerate into her.
Mr Shadrock told police he did not know that he had hit Mrs Wang, but had heard a noise as he drove off and just wanted to get away.
However, the Crown says it would be impossible for the accused not to have seen Mrs Wang, because she had her hands on the car bonnet and was yelling.
The Crown says her eight-year-old son witnessed the incident.
The defence says the jury should consider a verdict of manslaughter, saying Mr Shadrock admits that he stole the handbag but never intended any harm, let alone to kill Mrs Wang.
