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The Edgeware Road murder trial is drawing to a close in the High Court in Christchurch.
Lipine Sila, 23, is denying charges of murdering 16-year-old Christchurch schoolgirls Hannah Rossiter and Jane Young and causing grievous bodily harm to eight others after driving through partygoers on the crowded street on May 5, 2007.
Defence lawyer Pip Hall told the jury Sila accepts that, but he never meant to do it.
"He is not a murderer," Hall said.
The defence argues Sila took off in his car in a blind panic to get away after being attacked.
Crown prosecutor Brent Stanaway said Sila was not feeling panic and that he mowed down 28 people in nine seconds of anger.
"The accused's actions were consistent with anger not panic because he had sufficient control over that car to drive it in a manner which meant that he struck only people but did not strike lamp posts, did not strike parked cars, did not strike curbs or footpath," he said.
The judge sums up on Wednesday morning and then the jury will consider its verdict.