Dad hid killer son from police
The father of teen murderer Haami Hanara has admitted hiding him from police for a month after he killed a man in Flaxmere.
Witerangi Hanara, 43, appeared in Napier District Court before Judge Geoff Rea yesterday and pleaded guilty to a charge of perverting the course of justice.
Haami Hanara, who turned 15 on Christmas Day, murdered Kelly Donner on March 4 last year. He was found guilty after a trial late last year and last month he was sentenced to life in jail.
According to a summary of facts, Witerangi Hanara prevented his son from being arrested and prosecuted for the death of Donner.
He did this by keeping Haami hidden at associates’ houses and pretending to police and social workers that he didn’t know where his son was and that he was also trying to find him.
By March 9, Haami was the main suspect in the homicide.
From March 6, Witerangi and his son stayed at a woman’s address in Napier. From March 12 to March 17, Haami was kept at an unknown address.
Throughout this period, Witerangi told police and Oranga Tamariki he didn’t know where his son was.
Four other youths involved in the assault on Donner were arrested and charged on March 15 and 16, with Haami listed as a joint offender.
On March 17, Witerangi moved Haami to a rural location, about a half hour’s drive from Whanganui. That same evening the pair went to a 21st birthday party at Atene Marae. They were photographed at the party.
Witerangi Hanara attended the court appearances of his son’s co-accused on March 20, and continued to tell Oranga Tamariki he hadn’t seen his son. He received several text messages from Haami in the days following.
On March 27, he contacted police and told them he was worried because he didn’t know where Haami was and he thought someone from Donner’s family might have killed him.
Haami was arrested on the afternoon of April 6. He was subsequently charged with murder.
On May 3, Witerangi was charged with perverting the course of justice. He was convicted and remanded in custody until a court date next month.