A 44-year-old man homeless man has pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing 71-year-old James Burgess during an incident on Front Street last August.
On Wednesday, John Paul Samuels, of no fixed address, admitted to manslaughter in the Supreme Court, thus accepting responsibility for Burgess’s death on August 7, 2025.
Prosecutor Karim Nelson explained that Samuels had exceeded what would be considered self defense or defense of another, which was what the defendant had offered as mitigating circumstance.
Meanwhile, both prosecution and defence agreed that no further period of incarceration would be pursued.
Justice Alan Richards ordered a social inquiry report and released Samuels on bail until sentencing resumes in August.
Any content which is considered unsuitable, unlawful, or offensive, includes personal details, advertises or promotes products, services or websites, or repeats previous comments will be removed.
User comments posted on this website are solely the views and opinions of the comment writer and are not a representation of or reflection of the opinions of TNN or its staff.
TNN reserves the right to remove, edit or censor any comments.
TNN accepts no liability and will not be held accountable for the comments made by users.