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Offender Databases Perry Tuwhangai

Perry William Tuwhangai

Alias

.

Offences

Murder of Gareth Te Huia in Kawhia on New Year's Day 2007

Victims

Gareth Pehina Te Huia

Offender Affiliations

.

Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1966

Current Location

Prison

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to life (ten years non-parole) in September 2007
Due for a parole hearing January 2017

Background
From the Waikato Times 25/09/2007
Fuelled by alcohol and rage, Perry William Tuwhangai stabbed a man he saw with his 16-year-old niece at a party in Kawhia.

Gareth Te Huia, 23, bled to death after being stabbed near the left collarbone. Yesterday Tuwhangai, 42, pleaded guilty to murder on the first day of his trial in the High Court at Hamilton . He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole time of 10 years.

Crown prosecutor Ross Douch told the court Tuwhangai and Mr Te Huia were at Kawhia for New Year celebrations on December 31, 2006. They both ended up at a party at a house on Apakura St . Tuwhangai spent most of the time drinking in his car, occasionally being visited by two nieces, aged 15 and 16. He became angry when he saw the 16-year-old walk past his car with Mr Te Huia around 5am on January 1. He shouted abuse at Mr Te Huia, before confronting him outside the vehicle.

The men fought, after which Tuwhangai went to his car, pulled out a knife and stabbed Mr Te Huia. The wound caused Mr Te Huia's left lung to collapse, and punctured an artery. Mr Te Huia bled to death, and friends had to move his body to avoid him being run over by Tuwhangai as he drove off. When police stopped Tuwhangai, between Kawhia and his home in Te Kuiti, he had blood on his clothing, and a bloody knife in his car. He said while he remembered a confrontation, he could not remember stabbing anyone.

In court yesterday the public gallery was packed by about 30 people from both families, which are distantly related. Tuwhangai's lawyer, Roger Laybourn, told the court Tuwhangai was normally a quiet, humble and caring man. He said the murder was "an inexplicable act, which happened in a flash but has had tragic and enduring consequences". He said Tuwhangai apologised for the sadness he had caused to both Mr Te Huia's family, and his own family. Outside the court, family members said Tuwhangai's wife died about two months before he stabbed Mr Te Huia.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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