Thompson is on trial for murder in the High Court at Whangārei over the 2024 incident in Kaitāia.
The court has heard Arthur Tahere, 22, of West Auckland, had been in an on-and-off relationship with Howard for about a year and a half.
In March 2024, Howard, who was pregnant with Tahere’s baby, moved back to Kaitāia. After giving birth in July, Tahere travelled north and the couple briefly reconciled before he returned to Auckland.
The jury heard Howard and Thompson had been close friends for about five years, often confiding in each other about relationship issues.
Crown prosecutor Geraldine Kelly said in her opening yesterday that Thompson had never met Tahere before September 7, although she was aware of him.
On that date, Tahere drove to Kaitāia to visit Howard and his son. Thompson was at the address drinking with Howard when he arrived.
The Crown alleged that during the evening, Howard and Tahere began arguing and Thompson then stabbed Tahere in the neck with a broken beer bottle.
Despite several people’s attempts to help him, Tahere was taken to Kaitāia Hospital, where he became unresponsive shortly after arrival and was pronounced dead just after midnight.
While the Crown alleged Thompson acted with murderous intent, the defence claimed she was acting in self-defence.
Today, the Crown’s key witness, Howard, began her evidence.
She said her relationship with Tahere was difficult, with frequent break-ups and reconciliations, and that she often confided in Thompson, whom she called “darling”.
“Say I had an argument with Arthur, and I needed to get some validation or something like that, I’d call my mate up,” Howard, whose nickname is Jim, said.
“Would Thompson do the same with you?” Kelly asked.
“Yep,” Howard replied.
A night of drinking
Howard said on the night of the incident, Thompson suggested Tahere could babysit so they could “get on it”, but she declined, saying everyone was there to help.
Howard said Thompson told her she did not need Tahere and could raise her children alone.
“I know I don’t need him, I want him. I got someone here who wants to be a father to my kids. I’d be stupid if I turned around and said I don’t need you,” Howard told the court.
Later that evening, Thompson returned with an 18-pack of 7% KGB drinks, while Tahere was travelling from Auckland.
Howard said she had drunk about six beers by the time Tahere arrived, while Thompson was also heavily intoxicated, often holding two drinks at once.
Arthur Tahere was pronounced dead at Kaitāia Hospital shortly after midnight on September 8, 2024. Photo / NZME
When Tahere arrived, Howard said to Thompson, “My darling’s here”, before going to greet him.
She and Tahere sat in the car for about 10 minutes catching up and Howard said he was in high spirits.
Back at the house, Howard briefly went inside, leaving Thompson and Tahere to become acquainted. Tahere later went inside to see his son before returning outside with the others.
Howard said Thompson began discussing a previous incident involving women and commenting on Howard’s body, allegedly saying, “I love her fat a**”.
Howard noticed Tahere becoming annoyed – “hoha”, she said, and he walked to his car to get a beer.
She followed, asking what was wrong.
Tahere allegedly said: “You and your f***ing friends, eh bro.”
The couple’s argument
Howard said the comment instantly angered her because he had never met her friends and she wanted everyone to get along.
She said she was speaking loudly when she noticed Thompson nearby, looking “macho”, wearing her hoodie and appearing to “staunch out the situation”.
Tahere then returned outside with more drinks and the argument escalated.
Howard said she was angry by this stage, believing Tahere wanted to drink rather than spend time with her and their son.
She told him if he wasn’t there to help, he should “f*** off”.
Howard told the court Tahere was not angry and told her: “Go inside bro, you’re tired, bro”.
Asked by Kelly whether Thompson or Tahere were speaking to each other, Howard said she did not hear them, adding: “I was the loudest person out there”.
Justice Natalie Walker is conducting the High Court trial. Photo / NZME
Within seconds, Howard heard a bottle smash and saw Thompson stab Tahere’s neck.
At first, Howard didn’t realise what had happened and thought Thompson had hurt herself.
Then she saw blood on his forearm.
“I looked up and he’s holding his neck and there’s just blood dripping down his forearm. And that’s when I realised, oh f***, she’s stabbed him,” Howard said.
Howard said Tahere remained seated and said: “You f***ing bitch”.
She described Thompson as looking “lights on, no one home”, appearing to understand what she had done and that she had “f***ed up”.
After Tahere was taken to hospital, Howard stayed at the house briefly and later encountered Thompson in the bathroom.
“I grabbed her and I hugged her and we basically like fell to the floor … and she’s just saying like I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m so f***ing sorry,” Howard recalled.
“Why did you hug her?” Kelly asked.
“I don’t know if I’m being honest. I wish I didn’t. But yeah, I did, so.”
Under cross‑examination, defence lawyer David Reece put to Howard that Tahere had been aggressive and “bouncing around”.
But Howard rejected that.
“I’m the only one that was yelling,” she said.
Howard said Tahere made no threats to Thompson and maintained he was seated throughout.
“I put it to you she had the bottle out to defend herself because he was in her face,” Reece said.
“False,” Howard said.
“She was holding her arm out as a barrier,” Reece said.
“False,” she repeated.
The trial continues before Justice Natalie Walker.
Shannon Pitman is a Whangārei-based reporter for Open Justice covering courts in the Te Tai Tokerau region. She is of Ngāpuhi/ Ngāti Pūkenga descent and has worked in digital media for the past five years. She joined NZME in 2023.