Man serves less than half his term
The man responsible for the fatal unprovoked headbutting of a stranger in a supermarket car park dispute has been granted parole, serving less than half his three years, three months’ manslaughter sentence.
Emilio Richard Mac Tanirau Whaanga, now 24, admitted he ‘‘exploded’’ when the 55-year-old victim parked in a spot reserved for parents at the Countdown Queensgate supermarket in Lower Hutt on December 3, 2019.
The victim, who used the parking spot because no disability spaces were available, was knocked out cold, hitting his head on the concrete, while his elderly mother – who used a wheelchair and had a valid disability parking permit – watched on in horror.
Tanirau Whaanga, who had his 1-year-old child and partner with him, left the victim on the ground, and completed his shopping before trying to drive away. He was blocked in the supermarket car park by a taxi driver, and was then arrested.
After suffering seizures and multiple skull fractures from the attack, the victim’s life support was turned off. He died the following day at Wellington Regional Hospital.
On Tuesday, the parole board decided to allow the release of Tanirau Whaanga on May 11, ahead of his statutory release date in March 2023. Family members of the victim, whose name has been permanently suppressed, have declined to comment.
During Tanirau Whaanga’s parole board hearing at Rimutaka Prison, lawyer Mike Kilbride outlined his client’s rehabilitation efforts, including NCEA and psychology study, as well as completing the Mauri Ora Rangatahi course that helps youth inmates acknowledge their offending.
‘‘He’s committed to making his first time in prison his last time.’’
His client’s offending was ‘‘very serious’’ and was something Tanirau Whaanga had ‘‘grappled with his entire sentence’’.
‘‘What he has done is horrific,’’ Kilbride said.
Tanirau Whaanga was already serving a sentence of 12 months’ intensive supervision for stomping on a man’s neck with such force, it left a ‘‘clear impression’’ of his boot sole on his victim’s body when the supermarket dispute occurred.
Tanirau Whaanga, who had three supporters at the hearing, outlined the mental health treatment he had received, and how he asked prison guards to lock him
in his cell when he felt himself getting angry.
Reflecting on the fatal incident, Tanirau Whaanga spoke of his remorse. ‘‘It just broke me when I found out what actually happened . . . I have to live with this for the rest of my life.’’
He claimed to have stopped drinking, a trigger for his anger, and vowed to stop associating with friends in the Mongrel Mob – a condition of his early release.
Others included not entering the Wellington region, not contacting the victim’s family and, if directed, to undergo a psychological assessment, and ‘‘complete any recommended treatment’’.
He must also front up for ‘‘a face-to-face’’ meeting with the board in September.
Board member Al Speiring said Tanirau Whaanga had ‘‘spoken a really big game today’’, before quizzing him on how he might deal with public attention upon his release.
When Tanirau Whaanga said he would approach them, ‘‘answer any questions they had’’ and try to convince them he had been reformed, Speiring suggested a better approach would be to ‘‘simply cross the street’’.
The parole board is expected to release its full decision next week.