A man has been found guilty of murdering Canterbury father of three Richard Leman, whose dismembered body was found in the boot of his own car.
Richard Leman Murder: Michael Scott Rodger Found Guilty
Michael Scott Rodger, 46, murdered Richard Leman, 41, in April 2023. Leman’s torso was found in the car boot at an abandoned house in Tyler Street, Rangiora, approximately a week after he disappeared.
His head, legs and arms remain missing. The Christchurch High Court jury reached a unanimous guilty verdict on Thursday following a four-week trial and two days of deliberations.
The Crown argued Rodger shot Leman twice – once in the thigh and once in the chest – at a property in Andrew Street in Rangiora. Rodger denied shooting or killing Leman.
On the trial’s opening day, prosecutor Sean Mallett stated Leman smoked methamphetamine with friend Sara Plimmer before the pair went to Morgan Grant’s home to deliver food. Leman then went to look for a way to smoke more methamphetamine while the two women ate, Mallett said.
Mallett added that Michael Rodger had also been invited to the address by Grant. The women reported hearing arguing coming from an adjoining lounge and found Leman and Rodger facing each other, with Rodger holding a gun.
The Crown stated that no first aid was administered and Leman died within minutes of being shot. Rodger’s DNA was found on a petrol container at the home where Leman’s torso was discovered, as well as on the inside of a door handle of Leman’s car.
Plimmer’s parents testified that their daughter identified Rodger as the shooter. Both women told the jury Rodger had threatened to kill them, took Leman’s drugs and cash, and dragged his body to another room.
The Crown argued that CCTV, telecommunication, and forensic evidence pointed to Rodger’s guilt, regardless of the reliability of Grant and Plimmer’s testimony. Grant pleaded guilty to being an accessory to Leman’s murder in 2024.
Rodger admitted to concealing and dismembering Leman’s body but told the jury Leman was already dead when he arrived at Grant’s property. Defence lawyer Ethan Huda argued there were legitimate questions about Rodger’s involvement in Leman’s death.
Huda stated Rodger refused to identify who he claimed was the actual killer, referred to as “Mr X” during the trial, due to previous threats he received in prison. The defence also questioned the reliability of some CCTV evidence and noted the Crown omitted evidence from pathologist Dr Leslie Anderson, who found Leman could have been stabbed before being shot.
A text message exchange between Grant and another person referenced the involvement of multiple “fugitives” in the killing. Justice Eaton thanked the jurors after the verdict was delivered. A sentencing date has not yet been finalized.
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