Stop-go killer told to admit his guilt
The daughter of a man gunned down as he worked has spoken out about the aftermath as his killer was sentenced to a minimum of 17 years in jail.
‘‘Losing Dad shattered the family and now we’re left trying to put the pieces back together,’’ Rochai Taiaroa said as she read out her victim impact statement.
‘‘The problem is the pieces will never fit back together like they did before because Dad was the anchor piece that is missing.’’
Quinton Paul Winders, 45, was found guilty of murdering road worker George Taiaroa after a five-week trial at the High Court in Rotorua in September. The verdict was unanimous. Justice Kit Toogood yesterday sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years.
‘‘I offer you a piece of advice Mr Winders,’’ Justice Toogood said.
‘‘You may find it difficult to [convince] the parole board if you do not admit your guilt.’’
However, a statement issued by Winders’ sister, Miranda Dallow, following the sentence indicated that was not likely.
‘‘Quinton Winders is an innocent man and sadly with great regret this is not closure for either family at this time,’’ she said.
‘‘We as a family will continue to fight for my brother’s freedom and this miscarriage of justice that has occurred. We hope that justice will prevail.’’
Dallow said as a family they acknowledged the Taiaroa family personally and the loss of ‘‘their loved one George’’ and said he did not deserve what happened.
‘‘We appreciate they need closure as a family as it’s been a very emotional rollercoaster for both of our families.
‘‘However, we are saddened by the lack of professionalism given by the New Zealand police and the way that they have handled this case based off circumstantial evidence and incriminating and framing an innocent man who has never met George Taiaroa and could not ever identify George prior to this case.’’
Defence lawyer Jonathan Temm said he had spent time with Winders in sentencing.
‘‘His instructions to me are maintained,’’ Temm told the court.
‘‘He maintains that he was not involved, he does not accept that the police [case] was fair . . . he’s quite adamant that he never met Mr Taiaroa.’’
Justice Toogood, addressing Winders, said the identity of the offender was ‘‘the single issue of your trial’’.
‘‘You denied and continue to deny you were [the offender].’’
Because this crime cannot be explained by Winders’ background, Justice Toogood said he sought the help of experts.
‘‘You appear to have persuaded the report writers that there was nothing sinister in [shooting at poachers].’’
The Crown alleged a minor traffic accident, which Winders blamed Taiaroa for, was the catalyst prison prior to for the killing.
Crown prosecutor Amanda Gordon, in the trial’s opening, said a truck driver saw Taiaroa beckoned over to the window of a blue Jeep Cherokee.
‘‘He [Taiaroa] was then seen to immediately fall to the ground, the blue Jeep Cherokee then sped off.’’
Gordon conceded it might seem ‘‘inexplicable’’ that a minor traffic accident could escalate into murder, but she told the jury the accident ‘‘concerned the Winders [family] more than you might think’’.
Gordon also claimed Winders’ blue Jeep Cherokee was later found at his parents’ property, and efforts had been made to alter its appearance.
The trial jury of seven women and five men heard from more than 150 witnesses, visited key locations in and around the crime scene and examined Winders’ blue Jeep Cherokee. - Fairfax NZ