Mother’s pain over killer’s actions
The mother of a woman who was repeatedly assaulted until she died spends her mornings staring at the rising sun, tears flooding her eyes, trying to process her grief, anger and powerlessness.
She hopes the person who killed her daughter gets the help and counselling he needs so he can ‘‘man up’’ to his unhealthy actions and behaviours.
Maui Phillip Downes, 55, was sentenced in the High Court at Palmerston North yesterday to 12 years and 10 months’ prison for killing a 30-year-old woman and seriously injuring another older woman. The women cannot be named for legal reasons.
All the crimes took place between October 13 and 29, 2019.
Downes was seen assaulting the 30-year-old multiple times between October 13 and 16, including stomping and jumping on her, while he also used a cornucopia of drugs at the time.
Downes told multiple people that the woman choked on a large piece of food.
But a postmortem examination discovered 70 injuries, including multiple broken bones, fractured thyroid cartilage and bleeding on the brain.
Downes’ trial heard the injures were similar to those of a car crash victim.
The other woman was assaulted repeatedly by Downes, including having a boiling cup of coffee poured over her and an attack so serious she still suffers the consequences of a brain injury.
In her victim impact statement, the 30-year-old’s mother said her heart was broken by what Downes did. ‘‘I often sit outside in the morning and watch the sun rise from the east, knowing my daughter lies near my father and other loved ones. Tears flood my eyes as I offer all my questions to the fire in the sky.’’
She would feel grief, anger and powerlessness in those moments.
‘‘Living without my daughter is the hardest part of all. Her heart was kind and she was special.’’
Defence lawyer Steve Winter said Downes knew he had to be sentenced for his crimes, but it was also important to look at Downes’ circumstances.
A report prepared before sentencing showed Downes had suffered extreme abuse, both at the hands of family and while in state care, during his life.
It was no surprise, perhaps, that the behaviour became part of Downes’ personality, Winter said.
Crown prosecutor Deborah Davies said it was accepted Downes’ suffered, but he also had a long history of violence – 21 previous convictions – which should temper any sentence discount.
Justice Peter Churchman said Downes had amassed 200 convictions in 40 years for everything from driving to dishonesty, many of them while on bail or subject to court-imposed conditions.
He also had previous convictions for assaulting the older woman in 2016 and 2018.
‘‘The deterrent of criminal sanctions appears to have had little effect.’’
There was no doubt Downes had suffered in his past, but that could only be taken into account so much in relation to such serious violent offending, the judge said.
Downes must serve half of his term before becoming eligible for parole.