Trying to flee with Joanne Wang's handbag, Christopher Shadrock chose to run her down as she was chasing after him, a jury has been told.

Shadrock is on trial in the High Court at Auckland for the murder of Ms Wang, 39, who was killed after Shadrock's car hit her on June 16, 2008 as he was fleeing the Manukau Mall car park.

Crown prosecutor Kevin Glubb told the jury of nine women and three men that Shadrock grabbed the woman's handbag before running back to the stolen Nissan he arrived at the car park in, Radio New Zealand reported.

Ms Wang chased after him, after which Shadrock reversed to avoid her, but after spotting that his way back was blocked by an incoming car, he accelerated and drove towards her, hitting her as he escaped, Mr Glubb said.

Shadrock's lawyer Chris Wilkinson-Smith said Shadrock never had murderous intent, and the chance Mrs Wang could die never entered into his mind.

Four co-accused, Maka Tuikolovatu, Terence Tere, Vila Lemanu and Lionel Te Kanawa, are also on trial charged with trying to help Shadrock avoid detection afterwards.