KEY POINTS:
A judge has criticised the "knife culture" among Auckland's youth in sentencing a street gang associate to life in prison for the fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old.
Justice Lyn Stevens yesterday ordered Jio-Pene Sauaki to serve at least 12 years, telling the High Court at Auckland that his murder of Kelly Lawrence was "gratuitous street violence of the kind that needs to be stamped out".
Sauaki plunged a 23cm hunting knife into Mr Lawrence's heart during a confrontation on a Manurewa street in July 2006, killing him instantly.
Sauaki was on bail at the time after being charged for his part in an earlier high-profile incident of South Auckland street violence by the JCB - Juvanyle Crip Boys - gang.
Sauaki, then aged 19, had been carrying the knife for several days when he used it in retaliation to a "sloppy haymaker" from Mr Lawrence, who was unarmed, drunk and posed no threat.
The knife had a sheath, was very sharp and specially designed with an "easy-grip" handle.
Justice Stevens told the court an aggravating factor had been Sauaki's deliberate decision to carry, then to use, "that dreadful weapon".
The judge said there was an increasing trend of young people carrying knives then using them to settle disagreements, seemingly without regard for their potentially fatal consequences.
"In a close encounter they are only just less lethal than guns," he said. "The carrying and use of knives cannot be tolerated."
Justice Stevens said Sauaki had claimed he needed to carry a weapon to keep safe in South Auckland - but in doing so, actually added to the problem.
"He is why the streets of South Auckland are so dangerous."
Justice Stevens said Sauaki was "cruising for violence" before the murder. He was accompanied by his brother, armed with a hammer, and their friend, who had a BB gun, when they came across Mr Lawrence, who was drunk after a party.
Sauaki now claimed to not belong to the JCB gang, but Justice Stevens took issue with this, noting Sauaki had previously said "gang membership is pretty much the culture in South Auckland now".
"I don't accept that," the judge said, "and I think you need to have a good hard look at yourself."
Sauaki was on strict bail conditions including a 24-hour curfew at the time of Mr Lawrence's murder after acting as a driver and carrying a baseball bat in the JCB attack on the rival PDB - Penion Dosina Boys - in Flat Bush on Labour Weekend 2005.
Two PDBs were left for dead, resulting in the retaliatory murder of JCB member George Naea's father Lio Naea - the first of 11 street or gang killings in Auckland in the past two years. Knives have been involved in four of these.
The court heard police had strongly opposed bail and it was not revoked before Sauaki killed Mr Lawrence, despite his breaching its conditions and committing other offences.
Sauaki has since been sentenced to four years for his part in the Flat Bush attack.
Mr Lawrence's family were not in court, but a victim impact statement from his mother described how they "no longer have a motivation for life ... It is too hard to live in this world without Kelly."
Sauaki, who turned 21 last week, appeared in court yesterday dressed in an orange boiler suit, with tears in his eyes when his mother Linda and family arrived.
The court heard he did not know his biological father. He had attended church and been active in a youth group before his imprisonment. He has a young child with his partner.
Justice Stevens addressed Sauaki's family after the prisoner was led away, saying: "I hope you get your son and brother back in better shape."
