The Star: March 02, 2023

The Star Thursday March 2 2023
6
NEWS
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Witness testimony under spotlight
• By Kurt Bayer
A KEY witness in the bodiless
murder case has today been
reminded by a defence lawyer
that his job is not to give
evidence to “fit in with the police
theory”.
A port worker claims he saw
two men outside a semi-rural
property on May 22, 2017,
which fits the time and place
former Corrections officer David
Benbow is accused of murdering
Michael McGrath.
Benbow, 54, had asked
McGrath to visit his Candys
Rd, Halswell property at 9am
that day to help him shift some
railway sleepers.
But Benbow claims he
never showed up and denies
having anything to do with his
disappearance.
The Crown claims Benbow
shot him dead and got rid of his
body, just weeks after telling a
counsellor that he wanted to
“annihilate” McGrath who was
seeing his ex-partner Joanna
Green.
Lyttelton Port worker Stephen
Robinson yesterday gave
evidence on day 13 of the High
Court trial in Christchurch.
Port records showed that
the line supervisor had been
working early on Monday,
DEFENCE: David
Benbow denies
murdering
Michael McGrath
(above) and is
standing trial at
the High Court in
Christchurch.
PHOTO: GEORGE
HEARD
May 22, 2017. His first job was
about 1.30am tying up a large
container ship. After shifting the
big, heavy ropes, he had slept in
a bunk onsite, rising again about
7am when a cutter headed out
to bring in a fishing boat from
Nelson.
Records say it was tied up at
8.31am and after returning to his
office, and spending about five
minutes putting his gear away,
Robinson drove home in his
white Toyota Corolla.
Roadworks diversions took
him by “Halswell Quarry way”
and he ended up travelling down
Candys Rd.
Asked by Crown prosecutor
Barnaby Hawes what time it was,
Robinson replied: “It would’ve
been round about 9am.”
Builder Michael Craig
McGrath, 49, was last seen at his
home in Halswell, in May 2017.
Benbow allegedly arrived
slightly late for a counsellor’s
appointment in Riccarton just
after 10am that day, the court
has earlier heard.
Robinson says as he slowed for
the Candys Rd junction, he saw
two men talking at the roadside
and a dark blue Subaru parked
on the side of the road.
McGrath owned a blue Subaru
which was later found parked in
his driveway at his Checketts Rd,
Halswell, home when his brother
and new partner Green went to
check on him after he failed to
show up for a family dinner on
Tuesday, May 23, 2017.
The witness described one man
wearing a red t-shirt over a longsleeved
top and the Englishman
remembered thinking it was
a very Kiwi thing to wear.
Robinson further described the
man as being white, slim, and
fair haired.
Robinson recalls another man
who had his back to him, heavier
set, with a dark woollen top.
He passed by doing probably
20km/h as he slowed for the
junction and had seen them for
about 20 seconds, he said.
“Never gave it a second
thought,” Robinson said.
Later, he saw a TV news item
about a missing Christchurch
man but it didn’t ring any bells.
It was only two weeks later,
on June 6 while seeing publicity
on TV, which featured another
photograph of McGrath, that a
“light come on”.
The next day he was driving
his wife when they passed
Candys Rd and saw a lot of
police activity and “it all
connected” for him, the court
heard.
HEAT PUMP
SALE NOW ON!
HEAT PUMPs froM
$ inc GsT
2449INsTALLED
0800 131 812
info@powersmart.co.nz
powersmart.co.nz
T’s & C’s apply
2022
2022
Heat Pumps
Heat Pumps
Free Wifi
on selected
models
(Valued at
$299)
2022
Heat Pumps
frEE
consultation
from your local
Accredited Heat
Pump Expert
Final tours of the season
We look forward to seeing returning & new customers in the coming Spring season
Coastal Pacific Tour
CHRISTCHURCH, KAIKOURA, PICTON, MAIL BOAT,
COASTAL PACIFIC TRAIN, CHRISTCHURCH.
COST : $1,195.00 PER PERSON
(Price includes dinner, hotel room, breakfast, Mail Boat & Coastal Pacific Train)
Southland Tour
CHRISTCHURCH, OMARAMA, WANAKA, ARROWTOWN,
GORE, RIVERTON, BLUFF, INVERCARGILL, CATLINS,
DUNEDIN, CHRISTCHURCH.
COST : $1,950.00 PER PERSON
R & F J COACHLINES LTD
PH: (03) 388 6588
FUI JIN - 027 2904 304
RODGER - 027 4345 448
PICK UP AND DROP OFF AT FRONT GATE, OWN ROOM, NO SHARING
5 DAYS 4 NIGHTS
TOUR DATE:
15/05/2023 – 19/05/2023
(Price includes dinner, hotel room and
breakfast only)
CONTACT HUSBAND & WIFE TEAM
3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS
TOUR DATES:
14/03/2023 - 16/03/2023
Restoring your confidence through your smile
Full service Denture Clinic
and Laboratory
Caldent Denture Cleaner
Free Consultation
No Obligation
WOF
only $60
• Courtesy cars
• Oil changes
• Full mechanical repairs
• Brake & clutch repairs
• Transmission flush service
• Tyres & batteries
• Petrol & diesel servicing
Ph: 385 5517 + 396 Innes Road, St Albans
admin@denturesplus.co.nz
+ denturesplus.co.nz