Friends and family hold vigil for gun victim
Minister speaks of the ‘unbearable pain’ for Robert Horne’s loved ones
A vigil was held in Ponsonby last night for Robert Sidney Horne, who was shot dead by a Killer Beez gang member while out in the central Auckland area last Sunday night.
People started laying candles on a crate shortly before 5pm and several bouquets of flowers were tied to a lamp-post under a sign reading “Ka Aroha Hoki”.
Reverend Prince Devanandan spoke to those gathered, saying, “Robert’s death is an irreplaceable loss to all. No one knows the reason he lost his life here in the space where we are standing.”
Addressing the nature of Horne’s death, the vicar of Ponsonby’s All Saints Anglican Church said: “The man with the gun has caused unbearable pain to Robert’s loved ones and disturbed our peace here in this community.
“If I am allowed to speak for Ponsonby, I want to state this should never happen to anyone here in Ponsonby.”
After the vigil, the minister said he had not expected such a big crowd to show up.
“The community is shaken by what happened and we need to do something to comfort them.
“To close the life of Robert, in such a way, in the same place he lost his life. That was the purpose and the community felt very into it.”
Devanandan said the death of gunman Hone Kay-Selwyn was also another life lost.
“While we are praying for Robert’s peace, that man’s life was also lost, he needs to rest in peace.”
Kay-Selwyn’s body was found at a property near Taupo¯ on Tuesday. Police said the circumstances were not suspicious.
On Monday, a Facebook post from a family member said Horne’s death was “tragic and sudden” and they were feeling “deep sadness”.
A long-time friend of Horne’s said he was a “very likeable guy” and was “loved by everyone”.
Horne had a partner and was planning on having children, he said.
On Thursday the Herald revealed Horne and his flatmate, Amanda Gada, had starred in an episode of TVNZ reality show The Dog House NZ, a show that matches Kiwi families and friends with dogs.
The pair featured prominently in the first episode of season one in February last year, laughing and joking as they met and adopted a young male staffy cross, Fred, a rescue dog from Northland.
The deadly Ponsonby Rd shooting rocked the upmarket Auckland suburb, with police revealing the violent encounter was a chance meeting between strangers.
Police said Kay-Selwyn tried to enter a bar on Ponsonby Rd on Sunday night, but he was turned away because security said the bar was about to close. He was then seen lingering on the footpath and heading towards Richmond Rd.
About 10.15pm, four late-night revellers, including Horne, got out of a parked car on Ponsonby Rd and walked in Kay-Selwyn’s direction.
Police believe the gunman fired multiple shots at the group near Glengarry Wines and Bhana Brothers dairy.