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Offender Databases Bryce Kapea

Bryce Tamati Kapea

Alias

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Offences

Manslaughter of a Chartwell man Jaycee Dallas van der Drift in November 2009 ny a hammer blow to the head

Victims

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Offender Affiliations

Tauira Kapea
Terrance Beazley

Gang affiliations

West Side Outlaws

Age

Born 1984

Current Location

Prison

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to 7 years 3 months in February 2011
A non-parole period of 3 years 7 months was imposed

Background
From Waikato Times story 24th February 2011
A court has heard of the impact the death of a son from a hammer blow had on his family. Nicola Brennan-Tupara reports. The image of her son as he lay dying in a pool of blood will be forever ingrained in the mind of Deanna Williams. As she was too upset to speak herself, Mrs Williams' husband Gilbert yesterday instead confronted the men who took her son's life. The trio - Bryce Kapea, 27, his brother Tauira Kapea, 18 and cousin Terrance Beazley, 20 - were sentenced at the High Court in Hamilton for the manslaughter of Jaycee Dallas van der Drift, 28.

Mr van der Drift was killed on November 19, 2009, after being hit on the head with a hammer during a fight with the trio outside his house in Belmont Ave, Chartwell. Bryce Kapea - who struck the fatal blow - was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison, while Tauira Kapea and Beazley were each sentenced to five years and three months. The trio - who have connections to the gang West Side Outlaws - all pleaded guilty in November. Reading his wife's victim impact statement in court, Mr Williams detailed how watching Mr van der Drift die in front of her changed her life forever.

"I couldn't help my son. It was the most sickening, awful feeling," she wrote. His partner of two years - Aroha Wise - told the trio they had taken a man she'd made plans to marry and build a family with. "Those things will never happen thanks to you." But yesterday was also a chance for one of the guilty to convey a heartfelt apology to the family. With watery eyes, Beazley stood in front of a packed courtroom and said he never thought "Jaycee" was going to be killed. "I wish I could turn back the hands of time and go back - but I can't," he said.

"But I want you to know that I think about that dreadful morning all the time and my shame will never go away. I am really sorry." The court was told an argument erupted between the trio and Mr van der Drift around 1.30am after all involved had been drinking heavily at neighbouring houses. Mr van der Drift first hit Bryce Kapea over the head with a hockey stick, breaking it in half, before Kapea retaliated, hitting him over the head with a hammer his brother had retrieved from the car.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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