Three jailed over drug killing

Three men convicted of killing a man in Auckland in what prosecutors said was retribution for a drug robbery were today jailed for a total of 21 years.

Tuale Fuimaono, Ahmad Matlobyaygazwini and Ali Rafiee were found guilty in the High Court in Auckland in September of the manslaughter of Bjorn Henderson, after nearly three days of jury deliberations.

Mr Henderson was dumped outside Auckland Hospital's emergency department with head injuries late on March 9 last year.

He was pronounced dead early the next day.

The crown said the trio planned to attack Mr Henderson following an attack three days earlier by him on Matlobyaygazwini, an Iranian immigrant with New Zealand citizenship.

Mr Henderson made off with methamphetamine, or P, and some cash following that attack.

At their trial the men were found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.

Today Fuimaono was jailed for eight years, Matlobyaygazwini for seven years and Rafiee for six years.

NZPA AKL rp dj gt