Update: 2:43PM Crown lawyers say an Auckland man doused in petrol and burnt alive two years ago was killed for money.
Two men are accused of the murder of Fiji-born Shalvin Prasad, whose body was found in January 2013.
Shivneel Kumar and Bryne Permal, both in their early 20s, have pleaded not guilty at the High Court in Auckland today.
The jury has heard that Mr Prasad’s body was found by a dog walker, in an area of smouldering scrub in the south Auckland suburb of Kingseat.
Crown lawyer Aaron Perkins said more than $30,000 was withdrawn from Mr Prasad’s bank account on the day he was thought to have died.
He said Mr Kumar was seen waiting for Mr Prasad outside the bank when the cash was withdrawn.
“Within a very short space of time, hours, Mr Kumar in particular commences a spending spree with the money he has secured from Mr Prasad.
“A young man has died, because Mr Kumar in particular wanted his money at any cost.”
The trial is expected to last for up to four weeks.
