Editorial: Cowardly criminals must pay

All the men that were present at Ngatai Manning's death should be standing next to Fawcett in court.

Death most likely came as a relief to Ngatai "Mellory" Manning. She must have been in unbearable pain after being fatally beaten and stabbed at a Mongrel Mob gang pad before her body was dumped in the Avon River.

What she must have gone through is too horrific to think about.

All because she stood up to a group of good-for-nothing thugs who think that people should give them money just because they are who they are.

Every Mongrel Mob member who was in the "pad" at the time Miss Manning was bashed should have been standing in the dock with Mauha Huatahi Fawcett.

Fawcett was yesterday found guilty of murdering her.

He was just the lookout, he claimed. Well that solves the problem ... he was there ... he didn't lift a single finger to stop the brutality.

According to evidence, Miss Manning, a sex worker, refused to pay them a $20 fee for every client the Mob were demanding. Her punishment for defying them was death. Just who do these so-called men think they are?

Am I naive or does this kind of threatening bribery go on all the time?

It's intolerable.

Police yesterday confirmed the investigation into the death remained open. Investigation head Detective Inspector Greg Williams stressed that.

"We continue to gather evidence. As you are aware, we do have a full profile of one of the offenders, and I'm confident that eventually that person will be identified," Mr Williams said.

"To the family of Mellory Manning, I know Mellory's death has created a huge hole for the family but I want to pay particular tribute to their courage and patience through this five-year investigation."

Every law-abiding citizen should demand justice for Mellory.