Three-year-old Tangaroa beaten to death by stepfather

2:00 PM

A unemployed man begins a life sentence today for the murder of his three-year-old stepson Tangaroa Matiu.

Genesis James Mahanga, 32, of Massey, Auckland, was found guilty of the murder by a jury at the High Court in Auckland this morning.

During the trial, the court heard how on January 12 of this year, Mahanga beat the child to death with a fence paling and toilet brush after the child soiled his pants.


Tangaroa's mother, Hoana Rose Matiu, 29, was found guilty of manslaughter and three charges of causing unnecessary suffering.

Matiu will be sentenced next month.