Two found guilty of murdering pizza worker

By CATHY ARONSON

A jury in the High Court at Auckland today found two teenagers guilty of murdering pizza delivery worker Michael Choy in Papakura last September.

Another four teenagers were convicted of the manslaughter of Mr Choy, aged 40.

One of those found guilty of manslaughter was 13 year old Bailey Junior Kurariki, the youngest person ever to be charged with murder in New Zealand.

Kurariki was 12 years and four months old when Mr Choy was killed.

The Crown said Mr Choy was lured into an ambush.

They allegedly ordered a takeaway to be delivered to a dimly lit address in Chantal Place, Papakura, so that they could attack him and steal his food orders and cash.

Mr Choy died in hospital after being hit on the head with a baseball bat.

The pair found guilty of his murder, Alexander Tokorua Peihopa, 16, and Whatarangi Rawiri, 17, cried as the verdict was read.

Rawiri, who turned 17 the day Mr Choy was attacked, was also charged with aggravated robbery and attempted aggravated robbery. She will be sentenced on September 13, exactly a year after Mr Choy died.

Peihopa, who turned 16 on Monday, was found guilty of murder after already pleading guilty to manslaughter, aggravated robbery and theft. The jury also found him guilty of attempted robbery.

Those found guilty of manslaughter and aggravated robbery of Mr Choy included Riki Rapira, aged 16, Joe Edwin Kaukasi, aged 15, and Phillip Kaukasi, aged 17.

Phillip Kaukasi was also found guilty of attempted aggravated robbery.

One defendant, another teenager, aged 16, who had faced the attempted aggravated robbery charge only, was found not guilty and given permanent name suppression.

Mr Choy's parents both said they were pleased with the verdicts but said they expected Phillip Kaukasi to be charged with murder, as they considered him the ring leader.

Mr Choy's mother, Rita Croskery, said she felt for the parents of the convicted children but criticised those who had shown little care for their children's upbringing.

"Both families have been put through a tremendous amount of grief and anguish by these young people. I hope something good comes out of it, a lesson to prevent others from getting themselves in this situation.

"What happened might have started off as a lark, but it didn't have to carry on."

She said the verdicts gave Mr Choy's some finality.