Our society is as violent as ever.
Week in, week out we read of gang violence – shootings, beatings of rivals and in extreme cases murder and executions.
These crimes generally have little impact on Joe Public.
But two cases this week, one in Christchurch, the other in Lower Hutt underlines how easily some are willing to dish out brutal violence to innocent people.
Last year, a 59-year-old met a woman online. Nothing unusual in that. But what he didn’t know was that she was a ‘honeytrap’. He was being set up by people connected with the woman.
His house was broken into, a car, motor-cycle and laptop stolen. But the offenders didn’t get everything they wanted. The following day, the 59-year-old was at home when a car turned up.
He tried to get away, but to no avail. He was grabbed, severely beaten and more items were taken from the house. The trio were later arrested and this week were sent down for lengthy jail terms.
In Lower Hutt, this week 23-year-old Emilio Richard Mac Tanirau Whaanga pleaded guilty to manslaughter after killing a complete stranger with a headbutt in a supermarket car park.
His 55-year-old victim had taken a day off work to take his disabled mother to various appointments.
The disabled car parks were full, so he pulled into one that is marked for parents who have children with them.
Tanirau Whaanga, who has a record for violence, had his partner and young child with him, took exception.
The victim appeared to be trying to explain to Tanirau Whaanga there were no disability car parks, he had a mobility sticker and his elderly mother was with him.
It didn’t wash with Tanirau Whaanga, who closed the space between them, before changing his weight onto his right foot and unleashing a massive headbutt.
The victim was instantly knocked out and fell to the ground. Tanirau Whaanga turned away and followed his partner and child into the supermarket.
Two minutes later he exited the supermarket but his car was blocked by a taxi and he couldn’t drive off. Police arrived soon after and he was arrested.
The victim was taken to hospital with multiple skull fractures, and was taken off life support the following day.
Tanirau Whaanga later told police he had “flinched,” the victim had walked into his head and he thought the victim was going to attack him. Yeah right.
But he did regret what happened according to the police summary of facts in court, “questioning that it would impact on his future employment prospects.”
What about the 55-year-old, Tanirau Whaanga?
