Man admits Murupara murder

A man charged with the 2009 murder of 17-year-old Kaine Lewis in the Bay of Plenty has pleaded guilty.

Kaine was beaten and dumped on a driveway of a Murupara house, where he was found dying on October 3.

Norton Taoho, 20, appeared in the High Court at Rotorua on Friday where he pleaded guilty to murder, the Rotorua Daily Post reported.

Taoho was discharged on another count of participating in an organised criminal group after the plea was entered.

Another accused, 19-year-old Jarrod Tumoanaroa Rewi, has previously been discharged on the murder count but has pleaded guilty to participating in an organised criminal group.

Taoho is to appear in court again on August 5 when a sentencing date is expected to be set.

Kaine was the second teenager to die in a gang-related incident in Murupara in nine months.

The deaths prompted hundreds of residents to take to the streets calling for an end to gang violence.

- NZPA