Prosecutor Richard Smith emphasized to the jury that their role is to establish that the crime occurred, not to rationalize the defendant’s actions. The prosecution outlined the sequence of events leading to Mr. Singh’s death, highlighting the physical altercation that took place inside the victim’s home and continued onto the deck, where the victim put up a fight to defend himself.
Key pieces of evidence presented by the prosecution include DNA testing linking the defendant to hair found in the victim’s hand during the autopsy. The motive for the crime was suggested to be related to Mr. Singh’s wife’s rejection of an arranged marriage proposal from Rajinder. The prosecution also pointed out the defendant’s inconsistent statements to the police, including false alibis and lies about injuries.
The jury was shown footage of Rajinder purchasing items believed to be used in the crime shortly before the murder, which the defendant denied to the police. Electronic evidence further linked the defendant to searches for the victim’s address and indicated his phone’s inactivity during the time of the murder.
Mr. Smith urged the jury to use their common sense in evaluating the circumstantial evidence, stating that the weight of the evidence is “completely overwhelming”. The trial is ongoing in the High Court at Dunedin as the prosecution presents its case against the accused.
