Malcolm Rewa tells court he split ecstasy tab with Susan Burdett and had 'consensual sex' with her the night she was killed

Rewa told the High Court in Auckland that Ms Burdett, who was killed in 1992, was “my friend too”.

Serial rapist Malcolm Rewa has told an Auckland jury how he split an ecstasy tab with Susan Burdett and had "consensual sex" with her the night she was killed.

Rewa is giving evidence in his defence in the High Court in Auckland today, as the trial enters its second week. Ms Burdett was killed in her home in Papatoetoe, Auckland in 1992 and Rewa is accused of her murder.

It is the third time Rewa has been on trial, accused of Ms Burdett's murder.

"She wasn’t just Susan Burdett, she was my friend too," Rewa told the court today.

Rewa told the court about his intimate relationship with Ms Burdett. On the evening she was killed, he said Ms Burdett came to his house. They split an ecstasy tab.

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"If you're in good company, it becomes amorous. We had consensual sex," he said.

Earlier today, referring to previous offending he's been convicted of, Rewa told the court how he's become a Christian as he struggled to comprehend what he did. He says it was something different after leading a "harsh, nasty and angry life".

He says he felt terrible shame about his previous offending and understands the hurt he caused his victims.

The trial continues.

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