Four Australians plead guilty to beating Maori teen to death

Jon Warena was beaten to death during a brawl in which about 20 Aboriginals and Maori armed themselves with bats, iron bars, bricks and knives. Photo / NZPA

Four Australians have pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a New Zealand man during a racial street brawl in Perth's northeastern suburbs in November 2007.

The brawl took place at Lockridge between a group of Maori and more than a dozen Aborigines, the ABC reported.

The men pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter over the death of Jon Teotinga Warena, 18.

Some of them were under 18 at the time of the offences and cannot be identified under Australian law.

A fifth man accused of involvement in the brawl did not enter a plea.

The matter is due back in court in September.

Mr Warena had boarded an Air New Zealand plane at Perth for a direct flight to New Zealand but jumped off at the last minute as he was concerned for family and friends in the middle of a feud with a group of Aboriginals.

His mother, Pearl McRae, who waited in vain for him at Napier airport the next morning, did not learn until hours later that he had died from massive head injuries sustained during the brawl, in which about 20 Aboriginals and Maori armed themselves with bats, iron bars, bricks and knives.

Two of Mr Warena's travelling companions were escorted from the plane because of drunken behaviour and the teenager decided to leave soon after.

He had been staying with family in Perth for several months on a working holiday, and was reported to have been concerned about their involvement in several incidents with Aboriginals.

Two of the five people initially charged in relation to the brawl were aged 39, and 34, two were 17 and one was 13.

- NZPA