Wife-killer denied right to stay in NZ

A Tongan who said he murdered his adulterous wife because he loved her has failed in his bid to remain in New Zealand.

He also said he didn't want her to be with anyone else and was tired of working and looking after the children

Lamonai Ahau is serving a life sentence for the murder of his wife, Langaola Ahau, in February 2002. He is not eligible for parole until February 2012.

But in submissions to the Deportation Review Tribunal, he cited nine reasons why he should be allowed to stay.

Among these were a desire to remain near his 7-year-old son, his good work record in New Zealand, and the "mental hardship" his deportation would cause him.

Further, he told the tribunal he regretted carrying out the murder and had a "strong motivation" to reform. He was also concerned about the ability of his elderly parents - who are caring for his son in Auckland - to support the boy.

However, the Immigration Department in its submissions said there were no special circumstances in Ahau's case.

His offending was "grave" and had warranted a life sentence. There was "nothing in the personal and domestic circumstances of [Ahau] which contained compelling reasons to grant the appeal".

The department went on to say that the murder was such that to allow Ahau to stay in New Zealand would be against the public interest.

The tribunal finally ruled that Ahau's time in New Zealand, his work history and family concerns had to be weighed against what was a "swift, brutal and frenzied attack" by him.

The tribunal said it had also taken into consideration Ahau's apparent lack of remorse and the fact that the attack in February 2002 was unprovoked.

The deportation order was then upheld.