Guilty Verdict in Gruesome Murder of Richard Leman After Dismembered Body Found
A man has been found guilty of murdering Richard Leman, whose dismembered body was discovered in the boot of his own car last year. Michael Scott Rodger, known previously as Holdem, faced trial after Leman's torso was found in Rangiora in April 2023, with other body parts still missing.
The Crown argued that Rodger shot Leman twice—once in the leg and then fatally in the chest. He then took the victim's drugs and cash before dragging the body into another room. Witnesses Morgan Grant and Sara Plimmer later testified that Rodger had threatened to kill them if they spoke out.
Rodger's criminal history stretches back decades. In 1999, he was jailed for living off the earnings of a 14-year-old girl in prostitution, administering her morphine, and having sex with her. A decade later, in 2009, he received another prison sentence for conspiring to supply methamphetamine and cannabis. More recently, in 2017, he was imprisoned for 27 months after being convicted of assault with intent to injure, unlawful firearm possession, and possessing explosives. During the trial, the defence claimed there was reasonable doubt about what happened at the crime scene. However, the jury rejected this argument and returned a guilty verdict.
Rodger now awaits sentencing for Leman's murder. The case involved a violent attack, threats against witnesses, and a history of serious criminal offences. Some of Leman's remains have never been recovered.
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