Killer appeals sentence for machete murder of bellringer
An Auckland man who murdered a church bellringer with a machete just metres from a chapel has appealed his sentence.
Ueta Vea murdered Laulimu Liuasi, a 62-year-old man who was living on the grounds of the St John the Evangelist Church in tara, on January 13 last year.
In the Court of Appeal at Auckland yesterday, defence lawyer Lila Tu’i challenged the minimum non-parole period of 17 years handed down to Vea.
Tu’i said what unfolded did not reach a level of brutality or callousness to have engaged section 104(E) of the Sentencing Act.
The judge erred in finding it was not manifestly unjust to use MPI of 17 years, she told the hearing before Justice Denis Clifford, Justice Simon France and Justice Graham Lang.
“The MPI of 17 years can be displaced with the guilty plea credit, remorse and cultural factors.”
Vea pleaded guilty at what was effectively his second appearance, and first in the High Court, she said.
“Mr Vea admitted his regret, admitted how sorry he was.”
Crown prosecutor Briar Charmley said this particular murder demonstrated a “high level of brutality”.
The number of wounds, the places targeted on the body, the severity of wounds and weapon used were all relevant, she said.
“He conducted himself calmly; he ignored the victim’s cries for help. He didn’t call an ambulance.”
When Vea returned with his wife and a priest the victim was still alive.
“We know from that it took his victim a long time to die.”
During Vea’s sentencing, Justice Simon Moore said Liuasi’s family were struggling to come to terms with the enormity of what happened.
“They have seen their family structure collapse,” he said.
“Graciously and generously, they try to forgive you [Vea]. But what you did was as inexcusable as it is irreversible.
“Through your actions you have broken this family.”
During the attack Vea had severed his victim’s spinal cord, Justice Moore said.
“When you were done you didn’t lift a finger to help him.”
Instead Vea watched as his life ebbed away, he said. “This level of callousness adds another level of culpability.”
Both men attended the same church with their families and had even worked together to maintain that church property.
Vea began to suspect the bellringer was having an affair
Mr Liuasi begged for mercy . . . and you ignored his pleas.
Justice Moore
with his wife in late 2018.
He had discovered sexual text messages sent to his wife from Liuasi, who was married. Vea confronted the pair over the messages several times.
The ongoing tensions led to an intervention between the group, which was facilitated by a church priest. An affair was denied, but Vea remained suspicious as the texts continued.
About 5pm on the day of the attack, Vea left the house and walked 3.7km to the church on
tara Rd. Once there he found a hiding spot to observe Liuasi.
An hour later, Liuasi left his home to ring the church bell and Vea snuck into the house through a window to hide in the kitchen armed with the machete. When Liuasi returned he was ambushed.
“As the attack unfolded Mr Liuasi begged for mercy in Samoan, the language you both shared, and you ignored his pleas,” Justice Moore said.
Satisfied he was dead or dying, Vea took his car keys and fled in Liuasi’s car.
He travelled to his wife’s house and told her he had murdered Liuasi. She immediately went to the church with Vea and found the priest. The three of them entered Liuasi’s home.
An ambulance was called but paramedics were unable to revive Liuasi.
Justice Moore said it was an aggravating factor that many of Vea’s previous convictions related to family violence.
“Eleven of the convictions relate to offending against your wife. They include breaching a protection order, male assaults female and common assault.”
Despite this Vea had never served a term of imprisonment before he was jailed for life for murder.
The Court of Appeal has reserved its decision.