Attack brings couple closer

Peter and Maggie Bentley say the only good to have come from their home invasion is a deeper love for each other. Picture / Alan Gibson

Maggie Bentley was lying in bed listening to the birds chirping at her property in rural Te Puke.

The sweet sounds were cut short by a horrific noise - her husband Peter yelling as masked men burst into their house and beat him to within an inch of his life.

Mrs Bentley escaped outside and called 111.

While she hid terrified in the bushes, she heard a gunshot in the house.

She spent an agonising hour waiting for police to arrive, not knowing whether her husband was dead or alive.

The brutal attack occurred exactly a year ago. This week the Bentleys spoke to the Herald about the impact of the brutal home invasion on their lives.

Two men were jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to the crime.

A third, who pleaded not guilty, is on bail awaiting trial.

Mrs Bentley, who is in her 50s, said she finally became free of thoughts of the attack two or three months ago but the lead-up to the anniversary had brought the awful memories flooding back.

"I must admit I haven't been looking forward to this weekend," she said. "All the sounds and temperatures are the same."

She said she and her husband had spent the last year feeling dysfunctional and disorganised.

"It's taken us a year what it should've taken us three months to do."

Mrs Bentley had not spent a night at home by herself and did not want to. She is angry one of the accused is out on bail and dreads the day the two convicted men are released.

"The day those guys get out of jail is the day they'll do it again."

Her only comfort is the decision she made to read out a victim impact statement at their sentencing.

"It made a huge difference for me to look at those guys and tell them they were scum."

Mr Bentley, 55, was threatened with a gun and suffered a broken skull and numerous other injuries when beaten with a crowbar.

He said the attack had filled him with anger and distrust, and shattered his sense of calm.

"You're constantly aware of the possibility of bad things."

Doctors told him he came close to losing his life when part of his skull almost penetrated his brain.

Mr Bentley had undergone one operation for injuries to his face and needed another but said he was unlikely to have it because the first was so painful.

The only good that came out of the attack was a deeper love between him and his wife.

"We've become a lot more understanding of each other and become closer at the end of the day."

Mr Bentley said another consequence was that he had become "dreadfully politically aware".

He has been outspoken about tougher sentencing for criminals and the rights of rural people to defend themselves with firearms if their properties are invaded.

Mr Bentley got a gun out of a cabinet and fired a warning shot before he was beaten on October 23.

The incident happened within weeks of the disappearance of Auckland student Iraena Asher.

The police response in both cases sparked criticism and led to a review of the 111 system, of which the couple are sceptical.

They believe the review has done little to change the system and remain convinced that the police communications centres need to be staffed by police officers, not a mixture of police and civilians.

For a long time after the attack, the Bentleys considered leaving the property that has been their home for 10 years.

Now, they plan to build a new house there, both unwilling to let the men who destroyed their peace with violence get the better of them.

"We're lucky to be here and we love it here," said Mr Bentley.