Blackmoore’s killer denies shifting the blame to feel better

The killer of Christchurch lady Angela Blackmoore has denied figuring out two alleged associates to shift the blame and make him really feel much less responsible.

Jeremy Powell, 49, gave proof on Wednesday towards David Peter Hawken, 50, and Rebecca Elizabeth Wright-Meldrum, 51, within the second week of their trial on costs of being events to the homicide of Angela Blackmoore, 21, on August 17, 1995.

Powell confessed to the homicide in a police interview on October 25, 2019, after he was recognized by means of data elicited by police with a $100,000 reward. He claimed he and Wright-Meldrum have been appearing on orders from Hawken they usually have been to be paid $10,000.

Anne Stevens KC for Hawken accused Powell of shifting the blame to get a lighter sentence and likewise to “make you are feeling much less responsible”.

Powell mentioned he took full blame for the killing.

“I made a collection of very poor selections that led to Angela Blackmoore dying however I made these selections.”

He denied the killing was for his personal satisfaction and gratification as instructed by Stevens. Powell additionally rejected the notion of driving the knife by means of her brow and mind was utterly self indulgent.

“It was to ensure she was lifeless,” he mentioned.

He agreed it was a merciless act and she or he died in horrible circumstances.

He didn’t agree it was nonsense he was terrified of Hawken as a result of on the time Hawken made threats over if he didn’t kill Blackmoore, he thought the threats have been actual.

He advised Stevens he believed Wright-Meldrum inflicted among the knife wounds on Blackmoore.

He couldn’t keep in mind a lot in regards to the homicide, however he had been killing animals for meals since he was a teen and he believed he “would have made a greater job of it”.

He didn’t imagine he was not as responsible by saying he didn’t keep in mind the stabbing, he mentioned. He remembered intending within the second to stab Blackmoore within the head however couldn’t keep in mind doing it.

Powell agreed he had been ready to make use of his being beneath the affect of medicine and alcohol on the time of the interview to problem his confession as inadmissible proof.

When Stevens instructed he was primarily saying he was actually an excellent man and he was made to kill Angela Blackmoore, he agreed.

Stevens mentioned it was not believable to counsel he had been terrified of Hawken who had a limp and was of slim construct.

Powell mentioned Hawken was scary and denied making up a narrative that Hawken claimed to be answerable for six murders up north.

He agreed he had lived a lie for twenty-four years and carried on along with his life as greatest he might.

After Stevens took him by means of favorite phrases he collected in a pocket book in his 20s, he accepted he had a preoccupation with dying.

In different proof he mentioned he initially aborted an try and kill Blackmoore as a result of he “chickened out” and Hawken had threatened to kill him and Wright-Meldrum and made threats towards his household if he didn’t observe by means of.

He understood Hawken wished Blackmoore lifeless due to a life insurance coverage coverage and that Angela’s ex-husband William Blackmoore would get the home he owned with Angela. Hawken would get a cost from William, Powell mentioned.

Wright-Meldrum selected the day and time to hold out the homicide and did the planning, he mentioned.

Hawken had instructed utilizing the bat they usually wished to knock out Blackmoore so she wouldn’t really feel any ache. The thought was to knock her out after which slit her throat.

Powell mentioned he didn’t wish to kill Blackmoore however he wished to impress Wright-Meldrum who was driving the homicide. The cash was essential too as a result of it was extra money than he might have imagined.

He received on properly with Hawken however he was intimidating and likewise had gang connections.

After they arrived at Blackmoore’s Wainoni handle on August 17, 1995, it was darkish and as soon as inside Wright-Meldrum gave him the sign.

She received Angela into the kitchen to make espresso and distracted her when he hit her with the bat. He hit her three or 4 occasions on the pinnacle with the bat breaking.

He couldn’t keep in mind stabbing Blackmoore however Wright-Meldrum had cleaned up the blood with a tea towel.

Powell mentioned he was 19 when he met Wright-Meldrum they usually started a whirlwind romance based mostly on lust.

“It was sensible at the beginning.”

Earlier than his relationship with Wright-Meldrum, he was dwelling in Oxford and had a traditional household that went to church on Sundays.

Powell mentioned he didn’t know there was a toddler in the home when he killed Blackmoore and didn’t know she was pregnant.

He was “horrified” when he came upon, he mentioned.

After the homicide he felt panicked and scared however Wright-Meldrum appeared extra in management.

When he received dwelling after the homicide he drank half a bottle of gin and drank closely when the killing was referred to in subsequent years.

He went to see Hawken a few week after Blackmoore’s dying and he advised them to maintain quiet. He mentioned “snitches are a dying breed actually”.

Hawken by no means paid him or Wright-Meldrum the cash, he mentioned.

He broke up with Wright-Meldrum when he caught her in mattress with one other man.

Powell mentioned he was shell shocked after his confession and “simply surprised”. He had used MDMA and drank just a few bourbons and cokes earlier than he was picked up by the police for his interview.

He was shocked he had confessed. “I feel that I’d had sufficient of holding it in.”

Reduction got here so much later, he mentioned. He stood by his confession.

Hawken had destroyed numerous lives “together with mine” and Wright-Meldrum was as a lot a sufferer as he was.

His concern about confessing was the ache he had brought on everybody. “Angela couldn’t be introduced again. I didn’t wish to harm anybody else.”

He didn’t take into consideration his co-offenders, he mentioned.

The trial continues.