Top court stories of 2014: Steven Rakuraku

Steven Rakuraku.

Hawke’s Bay was a witness to some of New Zealand’s highest profile crimes and trials during 2014. Court reporter Sam Hurley looks at the year’s top 10 cases

Two words were used to describe a Hawke's Bay murderer at his trial this year, "fear" and "horror".

Steven Tiwini Rakuraku was given a life sentence in 2014 after killing Johnny Charles Wright, one of several crimes he committed across the North Island.

On June 23, 2011, Johnny Charles Wright died and was buried in a shallow grave near Eskdale, it was exactly three years later that the jury began deliberating to decide if Rakuraku was guilty of the horrific crime.

Rakuraku, 40, who defended himself during his High Court trial, claimed he was not the "monster" the prosecution was making him out to be but a man who would perform tai chi and yoga religiously.

However, the evidence against Rakuraku showed a physically strong, intelligent but manipulative man, capable of "great cruelty".

Mr Wright, 50, vanished on June 21, 2011 and the case quickly went cold as detectives struggled to locate a body.

But a witness to the horrific murder, Rakuraku's partner, who was a victim herself, came clean and led police to the grave on Waipunga Rd two months later.

Crown prosecutor Steve Manning said the entire case, and the actions of those involved, was surrounded and categorised by one word.

"The word is fear," he said during his closing submissions.

"If you think about this case, fear runs through it until the end.

"The whole narrative begins because Mr Rakuraku was fearful of the police - He then sought to survive by using other people, and the tool he used was fear."

Rakuraku chose people who were vulnerable, weaker than him, and smaller than him when committing his crimes against four victim in 2010 and 2011.

The victims included Mr Wright, a Rotorua man, whom Rakuraku kidnapped, beat and forced to drive to Hawke's Bay, a Hastings man he befriended and assaulted to help evade police custody, and his former partner.

An incredibly sad and poignant moment was described during the trial when Mr Wright's father, Charles Wright, had the "last opportunity to see his son alive", as he searched for his missing boy.

He visited the Hastings home where he suspected his son may be, but Rakuraku told him to leave knowing he had Mr Wright as his prisoner in the home.

Expert medical witnesses also made it "crystal clear" to the jury that Mr Wright had died as a direct result of the 36 rib fractures, some caused by Rakuraku beating him with a taiaha.

During Rakuraku's sentencing this month Mr Wright's mother, Nellie Wright, said she still suffers sleepless nights thinking about the "horror of knowing the pain and suffering" her son endured.

"I will not allow you to tarnish my son's memory. God, I hate you," she said while surrounded and supported by her stoic family.

"Johnny was loved by his family and friends ... he gave you friendship and you repaid him by taking his life."

She said the perhaps the best description of her son was engraved on his headstone: "A gentle person with a big heart, always willing to help others."

Justice Joe Williams gave Rakuraku a life sentence with a minimum of 17 years to be served before he is eligible for parole

Rakuraku, who was also found not guilty of threatening to kill one of the complainants, has indicated he will take his case to the Court of Appeal.