Court told of explosives in defendant’s house

Press, 17 January 1986, Page 4

Court told of explosives in defendant’s house

PA Rotorua Blasting powder, detonator wire and electric connectors found . during a police search of David Sticovich’s home were produced in the District Court at Rotorua yesterday. The defendant, aged 30, a Kaitaia printer, faces a murder charge after Mrs Michele Sticovich died when a bomb exploded in her home in Rotorua last August. Mrs Sticovich’s friend, Mrs Paula Andersen, of Rotorua, was seriously injured in the blast. The depositions hearing, before Judge Richardson, was devoted to producing exhibits to the Court. On Wednesday a Rotorua explosives expert, Alexander McKenzie, of

the Labour Department, described the “improvised explosive device” he believed killed the Rotorua woman as a Bison board box painted black, containing gelignite, a battery, detonator and switch. Constable Angus Keane, of Tokoroa, described finding detonator leads, masking tape and electric connectors in Sticovich’s garage on September 20. He had also found Bison board and blackboard paint under the defendant’s home. Blasting powder, terminal connectors and microswitches were also found in the garage by Constable Mark Bevan, of Tauranga. Constable Keane said he had been told by an explosives expert who accompanied him during: the

search that he had found detonator wire. In all, 1643 exhibits were collected during a detailed search of both Mrs Sticovich’s house and the defendant’s house. Of these, 260 will be produced in court. They include pieces of wood and metal and black Bison board found at the scene of the explosion. The items collected there were found inside and outside the house and on neighbouring property. The hearing, which began on Monday, is expected to end next Wednesday.

The Rotorua Crown prosecutor, Mr Pat Savage, and the Crown solicitor, Mr John McDonald, appear for the Crown, Mr Stan Thorburn appears for the defence.