A teenager has admitted stabbing another teen to death at a party in the Bay of Islands.
Photo: Ministry of Justice website
Moerewa teenager Krillan Koni Brown was stabbed in a fight after his younger sister was assaulted.
Today his killer, a 19-year-old male, whose name is suppressed, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and assaulting a female.
The young man had earlier pleaded not guilty to murdering Brown and assaulting Brown's sister.
He was due to stand trial at the High Court at Whangārei but when his murder charge was amended to manslaughter this morning, he pleaded guilty.
Crown prosecutor Mike Smith then read the facts of the case to the court for the first time.
He said the teen "stabbed the knife once into the upper right chest" of Krillan Brown once.
"The handle to the knife snapped off leaving the knife blade embedded."
The attacker fled the property and Brown "collapsed to the ground".
Witnesses attempted to help Brown and provide first aid before police and ambulance services arrived, but he died at the scene.
Someone text Brown's killer to say he was dead.
He replied: "My intent was not to murder bro."
The fight started because the young man pulled Brown's younger sister's leg and dragged her down the doorstep.
She had tried to kick him when he told her off for spilling alcohol, but he caught the kick.
There were more than 20 youths between 14 and 18 who had gathered at the house in Snowdon Ave for a birthday party.
They had been consuming alcohol through the night.
On July 7 last year, the teen surrendered himself at the Kerikeri police station and admitted.
He has not been before the court previously.
The public gallery was full of his family members, and Krillan Brown's today.
They wept as convictions were entered by Justice Timothy Brewer.
The teen was dressed in a navy suit and remained silent throughout his appearance.
Justice Timothy Brewer issued the young man's first warning under the three-strikes law for serious violent offending in New Zealand.
He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced in November.