escalating violence in our community Become a member of the Sensible Sentencing Trust

Mouseover links for full page descriptions

Offender Databases Anthony Hemana

Anthony Hemana

Alias

.

Offences

Murder of Desmond Arahanga in Waharoa in July 2008

Victims

Desmond Arahanga (AKA Ollie Desmond Gage)

Offender Affiliations

Hari Poulson
Jared Apiata

Gang affiliations

Black Power

Age

Born 1989

Current Location

Prison

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to a minimum 11 years 6 months in April 2010
Eligible for parole February 2020

Background
NZ Herald story here
Also this from the Waikato Times
The murder of Waharoa man Ollie Desmond Gage was fuelled by a senseless gang rivalry which threatens New Zealand society "like a cancer". "And look what it produces, whanau fighting close whanau," Justice Williams said as he sentenced Mr Gage's killers yesterday to life imprisonment when they appeared at the High Court in Hamilton. "A life has been lost because of your alcohol-fuelled big tough guy stupidity," the judge told the three men. Addressing the packed public gallery, Justice Williams asked how many more people would have to suffer before communities decide "this red and blue stupidity" must stop.

"Conflict and competition between blue and red is a cancer in our society," he said. Mr Gage, 28, also known as Desmond Arahanga, was gunned down outside a party in Waharoa on July 27, 2008. Patched Black Power member Jared Apiata, 25, later pleaded guilty to Mr Gage's murder and the attempted murder of Mr Gage's cousin, Lotoa Aliimatafitafi. Apiata's co-accused, gang member Hari Beaudean Poulson, 28, and Black Power prospect Anthony Hemana, 21, were later found guilty of both charges last year. Poulson was yesterday sentenced to a minimum non-parole period of 12 years, while Apiata and Hemana received non-parole periods of 11 1/2 years.

Mr Gage and Mr Aliimatafitafi were drinking outside a McGowan St house when Apiata, Poulson and Hemana drove past and began firing. Mr Gage was hit by four rounds and died at the scene. Earlier that night, Mr Gage and a group of friends had attended a party in Hedley St, Waharoa, when they were set upon by partygoers, including Apiata. Mr Gage, who was wearing a United Matamata Sports rugby jacket with red markings – Mongrel Mob colours – was confronted by Apiata wearing a Black Power gang jacket. Justice Williams said Mr Gage's "traumatic, tragic and senseless" killing had haunted the residents of Waharoa. Outside court, Mr Gage's mother, Sonia Kaukau, said her family continued to struggle with her son's death.

---

Corrections and Additional Information
We endeavour to make this database as accurate as possible, but we are at the mercy of whatever information we can find in various online and offline archives. We rely on the public - that is, people like you - to fill in the gaps that we cannot. If you wish to submit additional information or a correction to this file CLICK HERE . Privacy: Trust policy is that all sources are treated as strictly confidential unless we are explicitly told otherwise. If you wish to see a file removed from this database certain conditions must be met by the offender set out HERE Note that this does NOT apply for those that are the primary offender in a murder, rape, or any sexual offending involving minors. We do not enter into correspondence regarding the guilt/innocence of offenders. Such correspondence is not responded to, especially if the offender concerned has a number of prior convictions

Back to Top