Kim Richmond murder trial: Couple was acting normal before death - witness

The Hamilton High Court has heard accounts of the last few hours of Kim Richmond's life.

Ms Richmond's partner Cory Jefferies is accused of her murder. He has pleaded not guilty, but admits to manslaughter.

On Tuesday the jury heard about an affair between Ms Richmond and her neighbour, Alfons Te Brake.

Other witnesses also testified that Jefferies made threats of killing his partner prior to her disappearance.

On Wednesday the court was played a video from just three weeks after her disappearance, where he denies any involvement in her death.

In the recording, Jefferies describes the couples' drive home from the local hall, telling Detective Constable Janine Post that they got into a brief argument over the song that was playing on the radio.

He says they didn't talk for the remainder of the trip home.

"Got home, put the keys away and went to bed. She obviously walked in, grabbed the keys and took off," Jefferies said.

Local Arohena farmer Grant Hawkes spoke to the court about the event Ms Richmond and Jefferies attended before the alleged murder.

A group of up to 45 people gathered at the Arohena hall to watch the Super Rugby semi-final, including both Ms Richmond and Jefferies.

Mr Hawkes says there didn't seem to be any discontent between the couple that night, their behaviour seemed normal, and neither of them appeared drunk.

"They are very sporty people, and they drank a lot more than the average person before they started to show the effects of alcohol," he said.

He says he left Ms Richmond and Mr Jefferies at the hall alone just before 3:30am, after they helped him pack up his ute.

Kim Richmond's Fitbit data recorded its last heartbeat at 3:43am.

Newshub.

Contact Newshub with your story tips:
news@newshub.co.nz