Derek Round's murderer fails on appeal

At his trial in 2013, Michael Werahiko pleaded guilty to murdering Round, 77, who had been trying to help him rehabilitate following time in prison.

He was sentenced to life, with a minimum of 15 years' jail. Round was found dead in his home from what police called a horrifically brutal attack.

After being found guilty and sentenced, Werahiko sought to change his plea, saying he had not understood the implications of his lawyer's advice on this, and could provide evidence in mitigation.

But after hearing submissions by both Werahiko and a new lawyer acting for him, the New Zealand Court of Appeal has dismissed both his appeals.

Round was a Reuters correspondent and manager in Singapore and Hong Kong in the 1960s, and was in Saigon in the final days before the city fell. He was later editor of the New Zealand Press Association. ■