Woman escapes jail for part in Murupara death

File photo / Herald on Sunday

A woman has escaped jail after admitting her part in the death of Bay of Plenty teenager Jordan Herewini.

Lynette Victoria Teddy appeared in the High Court at Auckland today and was sentenced to 10 months home detention and 100 hours community work.

She had pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal group, the Mongrel Mob, knowing it could have contributed to criminal activity.

Teddy, 38, was driving a white van in a convoy of vehicles with a large number of patched Mongrel Mob members inside on the night Jordan Herewini died in Murupara, 65km south east of Rotorua.

Kawerau Mongrel Mob member Quentin Pukeroa was convicted and jailed for the murder Jordan on January 27, 2009.

The court was told the killing came amid tension between the Mongrel Mob and locally based Tribesmen gang.

Pukeroa was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 15 years.

He was given additional jail sentences of nine years for the attempted murder of Iwi Delamere, eight years each on two counts of aggravated burglary, two years for injuring Jamie Herewini with intent to injure and three years for his participation in an organised criminal group, all to be served concurrently with the sentence of life imprisonment.

Also sentenced in relation to the criminal group charge were Terry John Faataape, 40, who was jailed for two years and four months, William Te Paire Aramoana, 25, who was sentenced to two years and five months and Jason Kirk Iopata, 37, who was ordered to spend 11 months on home detention and carry out 150 hours' community work in Murupara.

During the trial in November, the jury heard how tensions between Murupara's Tribesman and Kawerau's Mongrel Mob escalated after Jordan was abused by Pukeroa and another Mongrel Mob member.

At the time Jordan was wearing his yellow school PE shirt. Yellow is the colour associated with the Tribesmen gang, while Mongrel Mob members wear red.

The abuse led to a fight in Murupara's town centre during which Pukeroa was punched, hit over the head with an axe then thrown to the ground.

Pukeroa's truck had been taken by Tribesmen members, one of Jordan's brothers included, burnt out and pushed over a bank.

Events then escalated into what was described as "war", culminating in Jordan being run over by Pukeroa, who was at the wheel of a truck belonging to a Herewini brother. Jordan died in the ambulance taking him to Rotorua Hospital.

Pukeroa had driven off, aiming the vehicle at Mr Delamere who had managed to jump out of the way.

- NZPA