Police say killer was acting alone
Ransfield continued to strike Haukamau’s head with the remaining half of the metal pipe to ensure he didn’t get up.
He then called emergency services, requesting ambulance and police.
He said he had “bashed his friend” and that he thought he had killed him.
Haukamau suffered significant blunt-force trauma to the back of his head. The blows fractured the skull and lacerated the dura, and caused extensive subdural and subarachnoid haemorrhage.
Arama Ngapo-lipscombe appeared for Ransfield and argued he was remorseful despite his explanation to police on the day that he had “signed his own death warrant for not paying his tick”.
She said after what happened Ransfield vomited three times and became breathless and started crying. “He said ‘sorry, sorry what have I done? Sorry my bro, sorry’,” NgapoLipscombe said.
She said Ransfield was profoundly deaf and it wasn’t detected until he was 17, he left school early and he suffered from social isolation.
She noted that he was yesterday facing the court for the most serious charge in New Zealand and there was no family support.
Justice Whata allowed Ransfield to sit in the court’s witness box during sentencing to ensure he could hear the judge.
Justice Whata said a cultural report showed Ransfield was in a serious car crash in 2003 in which his partner and 9-year-old daughter died.
He was injured in the crash and those injuries added to his disabilities.
In handing down his sentence he said it would be manifestly unjust to impose a minimum non-parole period of 17 years considering his personal circumstances, age and disability. He instead imposed a nonparole period of 14 years.
At the end of the sentencing, Tuwhakairiora Haukamau performed an emotional haka before Justice Whata.
It is incorrect. There were no other persons involved.
Rotorua CIB leader Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Van Kempen