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Christchurch Shooting Trial: CCTV Tampering and Self-Defense Claim at Center of Murder Case
A five-week murder trial is underway in christchurch, New Zealand, centering around teh death of David Bridgwater, and allegations of attempted obstruction of justice. The case, presided over by Justice Lisa Preston, involves claims of self-defence and a concerted effort too destroy crucial video evidence.
The events unfolded after Bridgwater,38,and a woman he met at the Juicy Festival in QEII Park continued a party into the early hours at an address in Aranui,the home of Holder and his partner,leanne Crighton. The night ended tragically when Bridgwater was found shot dead outside the property on Carisbrooke st, still seated in his running vehicle.
Initial 911 calls reveal a scene of escalating distress. As she was instructed by the operator to approach Bridgwater, the woman on the phone could be heard “sobbing and crying with increased intensity.” The operator directed her to position Bridgwater on his back and clear his airway. “‘Oh my God, oh my God, oh no, help me,'” she pleaded, according to court testimony. A bystander announced the arrival of an ambulance.
Holder admits to shooting bridgwater but maintains his actions were taken in self-defence. Security camera footage from the property depicts a chaotic scene of people rushing around as assistance was sought for the victim.
During testimony, Crown prosecutor Kerry White asked the woman to identify herself in the footage, specifically as the person opening a gate as Holder drove away. The woman reportedly stated, “I think he is run over.” Holder’s partner was overheard urging him to “Go, go” as he departed the scene.
The case took a further turn with the revelation that Crighton was convicted earlier this month of attempting to pervert the course of justice. According to the summary of facts presented to the court, Crighton was present during the shooting and afterward requested the woman’s help in removing a CCTV camera from the property.
The attempt to dismantle the Arlo CCTV camera, mounted on the house’s soffit, proved largely unsuccessful. Crighton held a plastic storage box to provide a platform for the woman, but the camera remained affixed, only shifting its angle. When questioned by White, the woman explained her actions, stating she believed cameras contained SD cards and wanted to safeguard the footage.
crighton confessed to cancelling her Arlo subscription and deleting the Arlo application from her cellphone, a deliberate attempt to erase the video evidence following Bridgwater’s death.
Police, acting on a search warrant executed on January 6, discovered the Arlo camera in a barrel containing burned items in the backyard. Crighton was arrested on January 24 in connection with her efforts to tamper with the footage. Holder was subsequently arrested and charged with murder on February 2.
the trial is expected to continue for five weeks, with the prosecution building its case against Holder and Crighton, and the defence preparing to argue self-defence and challenge the evidence presented.
This article is based on reporting by Al Williams of the New Zealand Herald. He has over 16 years of experience in journalism
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