The jury in the George Tairaroa murder trial has retired to consider its verdict, after the judge described the victim as a man simply going about his job when he was shot dead without warning.
George Taiaroa (left) and Quinton Winders Photo: Supplied
Quinton Winders, 45, denies murdering Mr Taiaroa, who died from a fatal single shot to the head while operating a stop-go sign in Atiamuri, South Waikato, in 2013.
Justice Toogood summed up more than four weeks of evidence at the High Court in Rotorua.
He told the jury it was perfectly understandable for them to feel sympathy towards both the victim and Mr Winders and their families but that sympathy must be cast aside.
The judge said for the jury to reach a unanimous guilty verdict they must be sure beyond reasonable doubt that the accused shot Mr Taiairoa.
Justice Toogood told jurors the Crown's case was that there were too many coincidences that, when aligned together, pointed to Mr Winders being the killer.
The defence has argued the accused was not there, had no motive for the killing, nor did he know or had he ever spoken to Mr Taiaroa.
