A youth who died in a brawl in Perth on Tuesday has been identified as a former Tamatea High School pupil reported to have been on holiday in Australia.
Jon Warena, aged 18, was the son of Pearl McRae, of Napier, and John Warena, of Hastings.
He died in a fight between
Maori and Aboriginals in the eastern Perth suburb of Lockbridge on Tuesday. It is believed the fight was over drugs.
Two other New Zealanders involved in the fight are in Perth Hospital with serious injuries, including stab wounds. A 17-year-old appeared in Perth children's court yesterday accused of intent to harm Mr Warena. He did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody until next Wednesday.
Mr Warena's aunt, Keri McRae, said he was a gentle, kind and loving person.
"It was just so unfortunate that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was a really beautiful boy. For such a young age he was so mature."
The youth's parents were both devastated, she said. According to NZPA reports, Mihi Betham, public relations officer of Te Arohanui Maori Culture Club in Perth, said the area in which the brawl happened has been notorious for violent crimes.
"The incident has nothing to do with racial tensions and it's more to do with a drug deal gone wrong," she said. "Lockridge has a lot of multi-racial communities and there has never been a history of animosity between the communities.
"In fact, there are a lot of inter-racial families of Maori and Aborigines in the area."
Police were still looking for others believed to have been involved in the bloody brawl.
Weapons, including a piece of bloodied picket fence and bricks, could be seen strewn across the cul-de-sac following the brutal fight between up to 20 rival Aborigines and Maori who had clashed earlier in the day. West Australian Premier Alan Carpenter said lawlessness on Perth's streets was unacceptable.
"We don't want to see that sort of activity at any time, anywhere on the streets of any neighbourhood anywhere in WA," Mr Carpenter said.
"It's completely and utterly unacceptable." One resident of the area earlier said he believed tension between local Aboriginals and Maori had been simmering. "There's going to be a fair few problems now that a Maori has been killed," the resident said.
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Brian Hunter said the teenager had been struck several times, possibly by more than one person. NZPA
A youth who died in a brawl in Perth on Tuesday has been identified as a former Tamatea High School pupil reported to have been on holiday in Australia.
Jon Warena, aged 18, was the son of Pearl McRae, of Napier, and John Warena, of Hastings.
He died in a fight between
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.