Waikeria Prison riot plea

A second man has pleaded guilty to charges related to the riot that partially destroyed Waikeria Prison. Parata Taite appeared in the High Court in Hamilton yesterday where he admitted charges of riotously destroying property, intentionally damaging property by fire knowing that danger to life was likely to ensue, and ‘‘assaulting various individuals using various objects as weapons’’. Taite, who was represented in court by lawyer Anoushka Bloem, will be sentenced on February 17. He is the second man charged in relation to the riot at the prison to plead guilty. The first is due to be sentenced today.