Defendant pleads guilty to home invasion

Desmond Mahanga Eru faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Picture / Alan Gibson

Desmond Mahanga Eru paused long and hard before uttering the word "guilty" yesterday, when he became the last of three men to admit their part in the Bentley home invasion of Labour Weekend 2004.

The 23-year-old's trial had been set to begin in the Rotorua District Court but potential jurors were sent home after he changed his plea at the last minute.

Eru had earlier denied three charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and burglary following the incident in which armed men forced their way into Peter and Maggie Bentley's rural Te Puke home.

Mr Bentley suffered multiple injuries after he was threatened at gunpoint and beaten with a crowbar and knife, while his wife hid in bushes outside and waited for police to arrive, fearing he was dead.

The aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary charges against Eru have been dropped and he will now be sentenced for helping the two men responsible for the home invasion.

He has also admitted participating in a burglary involving one of the men and a fourth offender, both his cousins, at the Bentley property two months earlier.

Though Eru was previously on bail, Judge James Weir yesterday remanded him in custody until sentencing on May 5, saying continued release was inappropriate in the circumstances.

"In my view the offending was very serious," Judge Weir said.

He said the other men involved were related to Eru. "Their previous criminal history had to be known to him as well."

Eru was employed by the Bentleys at the time of the burglary, which happened between August 13 and 15.

The summary of facts showed he had worked for the couple for two years and had laid cobblestones at their house.

Eru's cousins, Mano James Tamati and Ronald Dean Hira, were also involved in the burglary, and Eru discussed several times with Tamati - who was later responsible for the worst violence in the home invasion - that the Bentleys would be a prime target to burgle. Eru is disputing that he told Tamati when the best time to commit a burglary would be, but has admitted telling him the layout of the property, and driving Tamati and Hira there on August 13 to scope it out.

Tamati and Hira returned to the property the following morning and stole $12,000 worth of items, including two shotguns - one still unrecovered.

Eru took possession of some of the stolen property, and was said to have played a part in the home invasion by Tamati and Hopihana (Hobson) Epiha on October 23.

"They were acting on information from the accused," the summary said.

Eru burned clothing and shoes worn by Tamati afterwards, aware that he had them on while committing aggravated robbery.

Tamati is serving a nine-year prison term for aggravated robbery and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, plus another year for burglary.

Epiha received nine years for aggravated robbery and wounding with intent, and Hira, two years and four months for burglary.

Eru faces maximum penalties of 10 years in prison for burglary and five years for the charge of accessory after the fact.