David McNee (interior designer)
{{Short description|New Zealand interior designer and television personality (1947–2003)}}
File:David McNee.jpgWilliam David McNee{{Cite web |title=Deceased named |url=https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/1010 |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=New Zealand Police |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-09 |title=Pair sang about killing says witness |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/pair-sang-about-killing-says-witness/MD6YLIHY45SYZBZB5U22D4CAZU/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}} (born 1948/1949 - 20 July 2003) was a New Zealand interior designer and television personality.{{Cite web |date=2004-08-10 |title=New Zealand News - NZ - Jury told to be prepared for 'sordid' details about McNee's life |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3580442&thesection=news&thesubsection=general |access-date=2024-09-10 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20040810210625/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3580442&thesection=news&thesubsection=general |archive-date=2004-08-10 }}
Career
McNee began his career as an interior designer in the 1970s. There he helped decorate Vogel House in Lower Hutt during the time that Sir Robert Muldoon was staying there. He briefly was a real state agent which then made him continue helping with interior design shortly after.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-09 |title=Designer met his death in house of his dreams |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/designer-met-his-death-in-house-of-his-dreams/EE2PQU63LAODSIH4LUXODYK3KY/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}
McNee went to America for several years to then coming back to New Zealand. He then appeared on New Zealand’s My House, My Castle television show as one of the interior designers for the series. He also appeared on the television show Changing Rooms.{{Cite web |title=Stuff |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/9042955/TV-stars-family-still-irate-about-jury-verdict |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=www.stuff.co.nz}}
In July 2003 McNee was murdered at his home by 24-year-old Phillip Layton Edwards in St Marys Bay, Auckland.
Personal life
McNee was openly gay.{{Cite web |author=Staff Writers |date=2008-04-20 |title=NZ TV STAR Killed after sex on premises visit, court hears |url=https://www.starobserver.com.au/news/national-news/new-south-wales-news/nz-tv-star-killed-after-sex-on-premises-visit-court-hears/7934 |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Star Observer |language=en-US}} At the time of this death McNee lived with his two dogs, Felix and Jasper.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-09 |title=Designer's dogs buried with him |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/designers-dogs-buried-with-him/6RXE4S7IFWZASBXAAHI6HN5JW4/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}
Murder
On the evening of 20 July 2003, Phillip Layton Edwards, a 24-year-old homeless sex worker recently released from prison 11 days prior,{{Cite web |date=2004-08-28 |title=New Zealand News - NZ - McNee's killer was on probation |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3583856&thesection=news&thesubsection=general |access-date=2024-09-10 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20040828052833/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3583856&thesection=news&thesubsection=general |archive-date=2004-08-28 }} was walking along K Road in central Auckland. McNee, who was driving a convertible, approached Edwards. After a conversation, Edwards agreed to perform a sexual act in exchange for money.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-20 |title=Case #029 - David McNee |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/crimes-nz/story/2018813077/case-029-david-mcnee |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}} In financial need, Edwards consented to accompany McNee to his home for a shower. During their time at McNee’s residence in St Marys Bay, further sexual activity took place.{{Cite web |title=Crimes (Provocation Repeal) Amendment Bill — Second Reading, In Committee, Third Reading |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/49HansD_20091126_00001679/crimes-provocation-repeal-amendment-bill-second-reading}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-09 |title=Murder accused 'sold sex to survive' |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/murder-accused-sold-sex-to-survive/5PE7ZAGMKUZVV2UYHHFFWHYZIQ/#google_vignette |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}
At some point, Edwards became violent and assaulted McNee, striking him multiple times in the head and face. Edwards later testified that he had lost control and that the incident became a blur. Following the attack, Edwards covered McNee’s body with a blanket, robbed the house of money, alcohol, and the convertible, and then fled. Forensic experts reported that McNee was struck approximately 30 to 40 times and that the severity of the assault meant he likely survived only a short time after the attack stopped.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-09 |title=Murdered designer's sex life 'out of control' |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/murdered-designers-sex-life-out-of-control/6HFHQFYQ7POLKTJ7MICN2QKX3A/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-09 |title=Police reveal lead to celebrity designer's killing |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/police-reveal-lead-to-celebrity-designers-killing/Q6JA2QFTNRV6BMVZ4DLQKNQ7TY/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-09 |title=McNee killer wanted to admit murder |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/mcnee-killer-wanted-to-admit-murder/SNHA2EIJ4E3GETEJJP7XCO2OAY/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}} His body was found two days later,{{Cite web |date=2024-09-09 |title=Police appeal for sightings of dead man's luxury car |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/police-appeal-for-sightings-of-dead-mans-luxury-car/MDFY6UN7FZY2PA5YNBASDSOVEM/#google_vignette |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}} naked and left with a blanket around his body, with his head severely bashed. McNee choked to death from the injuries while being unconscious.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-09 |title=TV star McNee 'choked on vomit' |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/tv-star-mcnee-choked-on-vomit/XRGFPDM33MH3ZOEBWUUVSXUVA4/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}} Edwards said his motive for killing him was because McNee thought he was gay, causing Edwards to attack him.
Edwards was sentenced to nine years for the killing of McNee in 2004.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-09 |title=Depositions hearing begins for David McNee killing |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/depositions-hearing-begins-for-david-mcnee-killing/CES5JCSGN5GFQ4WA5L5YVG3YX4/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}} He was released from prison in 2012. Edwards was later sentenced to an additional three years in 2015 for the kidnapping of a two-year-old boy in Panmure, Auckland which took place in August 2013.{{Cite web |date=2014-12-02 |title=TV designer's killer guilty of kidnap |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/260773/tv-designer's-killer-guilty-of-kidnap |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}{{Cite web |date=2009-07-22 |title=Fashion designer's killer back in prison as he faces assault charge |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/fashion-designers-killer-back-in-prison-as-he-faces-assault-charge/UPNWWL33U7BQ2KREAJ4RW35HDI/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |date=2015-03-27 |title=Three-year sentence for kidnap |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/269753/three-year-sentence-for-kidnap |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}} At the sentencing he also charged for assaulting a female and for unlawfully taking a vehicle.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-09 |title=Alleged kidnapper pleads not guilty |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/alleged-kidnapper-pleads-not-guilty/3CB7FZK5X5WJXTREAP6JF2H2IU/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |date=2019-04-01 |title=Homicide detectives continue inquiry into designer's death - NZ Herald |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3515038 |access-date=2024-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401180641/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3515038 |archive-date=2019-04-01 }} Following his death both of McNee's dogs Felix and Jasper were euthanised and then buried with McNee.