Youth guilty of murder

A 17-year-old youth was this morning found guilty of the murder of a Wanganui teenager who was stabbed to death in November 2004.

Jeremy Frew, 16, died after being attacked by Rawiri James Hatata and three accomplices while in his car at Castlecliff Beach.

During a three week trial, the High Court at Wanganui was told the four went on a rampage of violence in Wanganui city during the night, which included stabbing another man and breaking the jaw of a third man.

A witness told the court Mr Frew had been sitting in his car when he was punched repeatedly through the window by three of the group. During the attack he received a fatal stab wound to his chest.

Mr Frew tried to drive to hospital following the attack but lost consciousness before he got there.

Another person drove Mr Frew to Wanganui hospital where he was operated on, but was pronounced dead at 5am.

This morning Hatata, Shae Graham Brider, 20, Rio Jade Hartley, 20, and Jordan Fortunato Geneva Aranui, 18, were found guilty on a range of violence charges relating to that morning and the previous evening.

Brider, who was also charged with murder, was found guilty of manslaughter, as was Hartley, while Aranui was found not guilty of manslaughter.

Aranui and Hartley were found guilty of injuring Greg Parnell with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Brider and Hatata had pleaded guilty to that charge.

Aranui and Hartley were also found guilty of injuring Daniel Carl Grey with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Brider and Hatata had pleaded guilty to that charge.

Hartley and Brider were also found guilty of intent and causing grievous bodily harm to Robert Kerrigan. Hatata and Aranui had pleaded guilty to that charge.

The jury were sent out to make a decision shortly after midday yesterday and returned with the verdict this morning.

The four are to be sentenced on March 27.

- NZPA