A poignant corner of town

Lucy Craymer
The corner of Heretaunga St West and McLean St is an unremarkable spot to most passers by but for John Larkins it is a place never far from his thoughts.
It was at this corner, a year ago last week, that his son Matthew was accosted by two youths and punched. It was here, on May 23, that he was felled by a single punch and hit his head on the concrete curb resulting in the injury that ultimately killed him 13 days later.
John still gets choked up when he talks about how unnecessary the death of his son was.
"Some days you just can't get over his needless death. He was a big, strong and fit boy but he wouldn't have known how to hurt anybody. Matthew's grave has become a bit of a shrine for others who have lost young ones needlessly," he said.
The Australian travelled the world as a shearer, sending home postcards to his father and collectable spoons to his grandmother and also videoing every shearing shed he worked in. Hastings was just one of the many places he sheared in every year.
"He will be remembered as an easy going friendly fellow. He was very hard working," said John.
John said his son was very thoughtful leaving $200,000 to his two nieces and nephew for their future education.
"I feel really happy about that but I would rather have Matthew back," he said.
Sixteen-year-old George Junior Edwards who threw the fatal blow was given two years in prison. The other 16-year-old initially charged in connection with the attack was discharged because the Crown did not have sufficient evidence to proceed.
"After George Junior Edwards was sentenced I accepted that but when the second defendant's case was dismissed I couldn't," he said.
John sent two letters to Helen Clark and had an acknowledgement of his letters from her and a response from the Minister of Justice Phil Goff.
He said Mr Goff had told him the "Ministry of Justice could not intervene in decisions made by the courts".
"I achieved a response and that is what I wanted. The most senior people in New Zealand are quite well aware of the case. I am not angry about it. I made a decision not to pursue it forever because it would only destroy my life," John said.
On the anniversary of Matthew's death on Thursday, John said he would take a taxi to his son's grave and "visit him".
And on that unremarkable street corner Matthew's former landlord and friend Jenny Scott will lay some flowers and remember the death of a friend that has made that spot anything but ordinary to her.