Convicted murderer Ashley Arnopp has told the Palmerston North High Court his former acquaintance Andre Gilling had never shown any remorse and was "proud" of his role in the killing of gay man Stanley Waipouri.

In the last days of Gilling's retrial this week, Arnopp - who was sentenced to 15 years' jail for the murder - was a key witness for the Crown, reports the Manawatu Standard.

Arnopp had initially denied Gilling was involved to "protect" and "comfort" him - but yesterday he said Gilling was the initiator as they punched, stomped and kicked Waipouri to death.

Waipouri's blood was splattered throughout his Rangitikei Street flat and had stained the clothes of his alleged killer, forensic scientist Janina Savage told the court.

In the hours after the December 2006 attack, Gilling told a detective he was riding a horse during the incident. Detective Glenda Barnaby spoke of the teenager's "weird smile" as he told her he was covered in someone else's blood but he could not say whose it was.

The trial continues next week.