Son's death 'left a hole in my heart'

File Photo / Greg Bowker

The mother of a man run down and killed by a car driver as he tried to escape from a brawl said today his death had left "a hole in my heart that will remain unseen until I die".

Spencer Purcell, 24, was jailed at the High Court in Auckland to four years and 11 months for the manslaughter of Senituli Siulua.

Three other men - Spencer Purcell's brother Ekuini Purcell, 21, Timo Fa'auli, 23, and Ralph Wendt, 23 - were handed jail terms of between 19 and 20 months on charges of injuring with intent to injure. They will return to court in November for home detention to be considered.

Mr Siulua died when he was knocked down by a car driven by Purcell as he was trying to escape a brawl started by one of Purcell's colleagues in Papatoetoe, south Auckland on April 26, 2008.

In a tearful victim impact report, Nunia Kaitaeifo said her family had been badly affected by the death of her son.

Ms Kaitaeifo said words could not express the pain she and her family had suffered.

"Senituli was outstanding and extremely mature for his age," she said.

"There is a hole in my heart that will remain unseen until I die."

Ms Kaitaeifo said her son had contributed to the family income, but the impact of the grief had a huge financial impact on the family in other ways, particularly as they struggled to pay for his funeral.

"My husband is a carpenter but he lost his job because of the amount of time he needed to take off," she said.

"He's still too hurt in his heart to write his own (victim impact) statement."

Ms Kaitaeifo said she didn't foresee any benefit to the offenders from being in prison, but she still would feel unsafe when they were back in the community.

Justice Forrest Miller said Mr Siulua was in a group that was having a party in Heathberry Close, Papatoetoe.

One intoxicated partygoer, Japhtha Ofanoa, was walking slowly across the street, apparently angry that his car keys had been taken away from him due to his intoxication. His half-sister, Hinemoa Tauelangi, tried to get him to rejoin the party.

At this time a group of cars containing the offenders arrived and apparently became unhappy at the speed Mr Ofanoa was walking on the street.

Fa'auli, who was in the second car, then got out and attacked Mr Ofanoa.

A brawl ensued, involving the offenders and several of the partygoers who came onto the street to aid Mr Ofanoa. At least two other partygoers, Samson Ofanoa and Jerrie Enuake, were injured.

Justice Miller said it was a "disgraceful, cowardly and wholly unprovoked attack on a group of individuals who were attending a party".

Spencer Purcell then got back into his car as he wanted to get away from the scene. Among those standing near the car was Mr Siulua.

Purcell revved his engine a few times to try to disperse the people before driving off. He struck Mr Siulua, who received brain injuries which killed him.

Justice Miller said it was accepted Purcell did not mean to harm Mr Siulua.

Purcell admitted the manslaughter charge and two counts of injuring with intent to injure at the beginning of a scheduled trial in August.

Ekuini Purcell and Fa'auli admitted three counts of injuring with intent to injure shortly afterwards. Wendt was subsequently found guilty of one charge of injuring with intent to injure and not guilty of two others.

There were tearful embraces between Ms Kaitaeifo and families of the offenders following the sentencing.

- NZPA