Mother talked to accused killer hours after death 

Source: NZPALiberty Templeman

The mother of school girl Liberty Templeman talked to the teenager accused of killing her just hours after her death.

A 16 year old denies murdering the teen in Kerikeri two years ago.

Liberty templeman's mother, Rebecca Templeman, remembers the last text she received from her daughter.

The 15 year old was away visiting friends in Kerikeri and told her mum she was missing home and her family.

Just a couple of hours later the crown says the drama student was hit, strangled and left in a stream to die by the then 14-year-old accused.

Rebecca says a frantic search began for her daughter when she stopped answering text messages.
 
By late evening Rebecca found out the last person Liberty was seen with was the accused.

She then called the number she had for him on Liberty's contact list of friends to ask him some questions.

The accused told her a story that he would go on to repeat several times, that he had left her at Kerikeri High School where she planned to walk to meet another friend.

The court was told the next day the accused went with police to the school to help them with their investigation.

Five days later he admitted to hitting and dragging her into the stream because he was scared she'd tell on him.