Wedding basher sentenced

Christopher Mana Manuel, 37, a Mongrel Mob member who was getting married the night Kataia man Lee Rata died, and led his fatal bashing, was jailed in the High Court at Whangarei yesterday for 11 years and six months after pleading guilty to manslaughter, aggravated robbery and one charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Lester Pairama, 19, was sentenced to eight years and eight months imprisonment after pleading guilty to manslaughter and aggravated robbery. The charges were originally for murder. Joseph Martin, 42, was jailed for three years and five months and Juanita Rafael Wilcox, 27, was jailed for nine months on accessory charges.