The brother of an accused murderer denies he's the one responsible for a gruesome Wairarapa killing last year

Wire Reddington is on trial in the High Court at Wellington, accused of killing Jamie Gill in a violent drunken scrap before leaving him face down to die in a field in June last year.

The Herald's Open Justice reports, the Crown argues Wire Reddington killed Gill, but the Defence argues his older brother Tipene, who was also drinking with the pair, is responsible.

It alleges Tipene privately confessed to the crime, saying he finished him off because his brother didn't have the courage to do it.

Tipene denies this.