Couple's invasion horror lives on

Three months on, the nightmare of a vicious home invasion at their normally tranquil rural property near Te Puke is far from over for Peter and Maggie Bentley.

Although one of four men charged with offences relating to the attack made a surprise guilty plea in the Rotorua District Court on Friday, it is little consolation to the couple.

They are still angry and suffering the mental and physical aftermath.

Mr Bentley, 54, who was badly beaten, suffers constant pain and he and his wife live with daily anxiety.

The couple fear revenge for speaking out publicly and are far from confident that Hopihana Epiha, an unemployed 40-year-old from Rotorua, will get anywhere near the maximum 14 years' imprisonment for home invasion.

They worry he will "do it again".

Epiha, who was deported from Australia after serving jail time for violent crime there, will be sentenced on March 18 on charges of aggravated robbery and wounding Mr Bentley with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on October 23.

Three other men on related charges - two of whom are in custody - have pleaded not guilty and have been remanded for a depositions hearing in early April.

"It is really hard," Mrs Bentley said yesterday. "We are still jumpy all the time. It just doesn't go away.

Her husband - who suffered a fractured skull, broken nose, stab wounds and extensive bruising - has continuous headaches and is due for a further scan next month.

He is seeing a psychologist but Mrs Bentley was denied similar ACC payments for counselling. She has appealed and, if unsuccessful, will have to pay for help herself.

"I need to get sorted. I guess as time goes on you feel better, but we will never be normal again."

Mrs Bentley said they were still waiting for the outcome of an investigation into the 111 emergency call system after laying a complaint over the way their case was handled.

She worries she will regret speaking out "because in the end it won't make any difference. But I hope I am wrong".