Detective Inspector Lew Warner reveals more details around the murder investigation into David Kuka's death.
David Kuka was killed at home in Tauranga in February. This week it was revealed his murder was believed to be a case of "mistaken identity". In the wake of the news, at a community gathering where Kuka was a familiar face, Scott Yeoman met two people who knew him well.
To David Rawiri Kuka, she was "Mumma Sue".
The last time the two friends saw each other, a couple of weeks before he was murdered, she delivered him a gift.
"I had a leather jacket that I'd said to him, I'd like to give it to you, I don't use it," the 63-year-old, who only wanted to be identified as Sue, said of that final meeting.
"And I actually took it down to his work and he was rapt. He got it all cleaned up and he was just so pleased."
Kuka was shot execution-style at his Gate Pā home on February 11.
This week, after extensive inquiries over the past three months, head of the murder investigation, Detective Inspector Lew Warner, said it was believed the killing was a case of "mistaken identity".
The 52-year-old's death shook the street community and the volunteers who helped at the dinners every week.
"It was so sad. I just couldn't believe it when I read that it was him," Sue said.
"I just ... I actually ... I did cry and I think I got hold of Kevin [another volunteer] and said: it's our David. I was devastated."
His absence from the community dinners took some getting used to.
"After his death, a few times I would come down here and I would think, oh my God, David's not here," Sue said.
She visited the Kuka family to give her condolences. She saw her friend but the image was hard to comprehend.
"To me, it just wasn't him. It just did not look like him at all."
Kuka was found with a serious head injury at his Wilrose Place home and died at 11.15pm, soon after emergency services arrived.
Detective Warner said Kuka was last seen playing his guitar in his room a few hours before his murder. The shooting was believed to have happened about 10pm.
Sue said when she first met Kuka all those years ago he was "sort of a closed book".
"It took a bit to get to know him and him trust you."
But over the years they became good friends and managed to work their way through some differences of opinion.
She described Kuka as a gentle guy who wanted everyone to love Jesus.
Religion was an ongoing but good-natured battle Kuka and Sue had.
"He was a friend. A bloody good friend. He was lovely."
He came and went. He had the loveliest face. He had beautiful eyes and they sparkled sometimes.
Sue was not the only person Kuka called mum.
There was also Jan.
Kuka and Jan's friendship started about 10 years ago.
"Could be longer," Jan said. "Seems like forever ago. I met him through the Salvation Army."
The 76-year-old, who only wanted to be identified by her first name, helped Kuka through a tough period in his life and they saw each other regularly through the years.
"It's just hard going through it. I went through it when he died, then I went through it when I was told what happened; now I'm going through it again. It's tough."
Background
As a young boy, Kuka was brought up on Matakana Island by his grandmother before he settled in Greerton. He went to Greerton School and Tauranga Boys' College.
Self-employed master carver James Tapiata, from Te Puna, said earlier this week that Kuka was of Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Porou descent. Kuka's late mother and Tapiata's father were cousins.
Tapiata described Kuka as a passionate and gifted carver.
Kuka is survived by his four children and his brothers and sisters.
