Gang member jailed for assaults, crimes while on bail

A Taranaki gang member who assaulted his partner, and was then involved in further crime while on bail, has been jailed.

Fenna Tamati Karaitiana was sentenced in the New Plymouth District Court on three charges of assault with intent to injure, as well as a separate set of offending including demanding with menaces and unlawful possession of ammunition.

According to a police summary of facts, Karaitiana and his partner had been in a relationship for

13 years and had three children. The summary details assaults on two separate days in March

2020, including pulling the victim’s hair and punching her left eye.

Late on March 22, the victim’s brother, along with his father and another sibling, arrived from Hamilton to ensure she was safe.

They found the pair parked on the side of the road. As her brother came towards the car the woman got out and limped towards him.

Karaitiana eventually approached his partner’s brother ‘‘aggressively’’, carrying a knife, and lunged at him.

The woman’s brother was struck twice on the forearm and left with a small puncture wound.

The court heard that while on bail for the assaults, Karaitiana and two others obtained a Volkswagen Golf.

A separate Crown summary stated two of the males, including the defendant, displayed Black Power gang insignia on their faces by way of tattoos when they took the vehicle.

The victim believed he would be physically attacked if he did not comply with the directions of the defendant, and handed over his key.

The victim asked Karaitiana ‘‘Why are you doing this to me?’’ and the response was ‘‘because I f. . .ing can, boy’’.

Karaitiana told the victim: ‘‘If you tell police or if you talk to anyone inside this house, we will find you and you might just disappear.’’

He asked the victim for his driver’s licence, which was produced, and Karaitiana wrote a sale agreement on a blank A4-sized piece of paper.

He folded the paper so the victim could not see what was written, and told the victim to sign it.

Karaitiana effectively got the owner to execute a contract signing it over as payment for a debt, the court heard.

Judge Tony Greig noted that Karaitiana seemed ‘‘incredulous’’ that it had led to a charge, with defence lawyer Nathan Bourke earlier saying his client grew up in gang culture.

Karaitiana was also found in possession of 11 rounds of .22 ammunition during a search warrant.

Judge Greig noted the defendant’s history with charges spanning 17 years, but also his remorse over assaulting his partner.

Karaitiana was sentenced to three years and six months in prison. A protection order was issued and the ammunition ordered to be destroyed.