The murder trial of Niraj Prasad is expected to come to a close in the Christchurch District Court today

The 39-year-old is accused of killing Faiz Ali, the new partner of Prasad's ex-wife, in a hammer attack, in February last year.

Open Justice reports defence counsel put forward a self-defence argument in their closing address yesterday.

While the Crown says the attack was planned in a culmination of six months of pent up rage and aggression.

Justice Rob Osborne will sum up the trial for the jury, before it considers its verdict this morning.