Mum’s killer faces court
Young mother’s death a tragic end to a life of brutal domestic violence, jury told
Mcourts um-of-two Chozyn Koroheke’s death was the tragic end to a series of brutal domestic violence incidents, a court has heard.
The man accused of her murder is on trial with a woman accused of helping him to evade police in the days after the fatal shooting.
The case against Turiarangi Tai, 23, and the 25-year-old woman will be heard before a jury and Justice Matthew Muir over the next three weeks in the High Court at Auckland.
Tai pleaded not guilty to Koroheke’s murder but admitted unlawful possession of a firearm.
His co-defendant, who has interim name suppression, is charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder.
Koroheke, 22, was fatally shot at close range last April 4 in Pakuranga Heights, during a domestic argument.
During his opening address, crown prosecutor Mark Williams said Koroheke was killed violently in her home by a single shot to the right side of her abdomen.
“Her killer was the first defendant, Mr Tai,” he said. “He evaded capture for almost two weeks, assisted in part by the second defendant.”
Tai and Koroheke lived in the Auckland house with Koroheke’s brother and partner.
Williams said the home was the scene of many domestic fights and it was after another, he said, that Tai reached for a 12-gauge double barrel shotgun, loaded with a single cartridge, and shot his partner.
He said Tai and Koroheke had been arguing before the murderaccused packed his bags and went to leave the property in his car.
However, the court heard, he returned before reaching the end of the driveway — this time with a gun.
Williams said Koroheke was heard yelling: “He is coming in, he has got a shotgun!”
Tai found Koroheke trying to hide in her brother’s bedroom. He initially aimed at her head and then shot her in the gut at a distance of no more than 50cm, Williams said.
Despite paramedics being called, Koroheke was soon pronounced dead in the back of an ambulance.
Instead of waiting to see whether Chozyn lived or died — or to explain what had happened to the arriving police — Tai fled.
He remained in the house for only a matter of minutes, Williams said.
He said crown evidence will show Tai stopped at a service station before dumping his car.
The woman accused of helping Tai during his run from the law called a taxi after he arrived at her home looking for a safe house, Williams said. “She did so in order for him to remain free,” he said.
Tai eventually handed himself over to police.
Williams said Tai had attacked Koroheke before, including hitting her in the head with a rock and stabbing her.
He also asked a member of the court to show the jury the alleged murder weapon.
“It may be the first time you’ve seen something like this close up — a lethal weapon of this nature.”
Tai’s counsel, Peter Kaye, asked the jury to make a decision between murder or manslaughter.
“We all know we are here because a 22-year-old woman has died, we can never bring her back,” he said.
“There’s no argument about who had the gun, there’s no argument about it discharging — there’s no issue — there’s no argument it caused death.” He said the jury’s decision would be made on his client’s perceived intent.
Counsel for the woman accused of aiding Tai said she “acted out of fear” and simply wished the fugitive to leave her home and turn himself over to police.
Early in the police investigation three other people were arrested on unrelated matters. The men, two aged 30 and one aged 27, were charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.