The man accused of murdering bottle shop employee Declan Laverty, has been taken to the scene of the alleged crime for the first time since his arrest in March 2023. Keith Kerinauia has pleaded not guilty to murder, with his lawyers arguing he acted in self-defense on the night he fatally stabbed the 20-year-old victim at the BSW in Darwin’s northern suburbs.
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00:00Out of court at the scene of the alleged crime.
00:06The accused, Keith Karanua, standing outside the bottle shop where he fatally stabbed 20-year-old
00:11Declan Lavity 15 months ago.
00:14It's the first time Mr Karanua has been seen outside the courtroom since his arrest the
00:19morning after the incident.
00:21Until now, the jury has only seen the BWS where the alleged murder took place through
00:26the eyes of CCTV cameras.
00:29Today, they got to see it for themselves.
00:31The judge, lawyers and the man at the centre of the ongoing trial guided around the bottle
00:36shop.
00:37Jurors given the opportunity to see where certain events took place.
00:41Also released today, never before seen pictures of the folding knife and box cutter found
00:46inside the jean pockets of Declan Lavity during the crime scene examination.
00:52The knife used by the accused, described by several witnesses as being roughly the length
00:56of a ruler, has never been found.
00:59Forensic pathologist Dr Marianne Tiamenzma today provided detailed evidence about the
01:05deceased's fatal injury.
01:07Dr Tiamenzma telling the court the shape of the wound was in keeping with a single edged
01:11blade with a sharp edge pointing upwards, which penetrated through the skin, through
01:16Mr Lavity's right lung and into his heart.
01:20Proceedings stalled today when questions from the prosecution about Dr Tiamenzma's observations
01:25of CCTV sparked objections from the defence.
01:29The judge ultimately deciding to adjourn the court until next week.
01:33Close to 20 witnesses have given evidence so far, including eyewitnesses, first responders,
01:39forensic experts and the arresting officer.
01:42Whether Mr Keranua himself will give evidence remains to be seen.
01:46The prosecution is expected to deliver their closing address when the trial returns here
01:51to Darwin's Supreme Court on Monday.
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