Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Witnesses have taken to the stand in the in the trial of a former corrections officer accused of murdering a Christchurch builder.
Crown prosecutors in the murder trial of a former corrections officer allege he killed his childhood friend after he began a relationship with his ex-partner.
David Charles Benbow, 54, has pleaded not guilty to the killing of 49-year-old Michael Craig McGrath in 2017.
Crown prosecutor Claire Boshier told the Christchurch High Court on Tuesday that Benbow spoke of "wanting to annihilate" McGrath after discovering the relationship by his daughter.
"Why did Mr Benbow want to annihilate Mr McGrath?
"Mr Benbow had just had his suspicions confirmed about Mr McGrath being in a relationship with his ex-partner of 17 years."
But defence King's Counsel Marc Corlett told the jury to keep an open mind and the crown's theory was "not enough".
McGrath's younger brother Simon David McGrath was the first witness called on Tuesday.
He will take to the stand again when court reconvenes on Wednesday morning.
Boshier told the jury about how Benbow struggled with the revelation and how he told a counsellor that his sleep deteriorated, stopped eating and "felt shafted".
It is the second day of the trial after the 12 jurors were finalised on Monday.
The trial under Justice Jonathan Eaton is expected to take seven weeks with a total of 133 witnesses to provide evidence.
McGrath was last seen at his Halswell home in May 2017 and his body has still not been found.