Four jailed over Kaitaia wedding night killing

From left Lester Pairama, Christopher Manuel and Joseph Martin were jailed in the High Court at Whangarei yesterday for their roles in the manslaughter of Kaitaia man Lee Rata.

The death of Kaitaia man Lee Rata in a ''cowardly'' pack attack by gang members has devastated his family, but they hope the sentencing of those responsible for the killing will help them move on.

In the High Court at Whangarei yesterday, Rata's father Nick Rata, mother Julia Tua, sister Liz Rata-Waipouri and his partner Sharmaine Rikiti read their emotionally charged victim impact statements at the sentencing of four people convicted over the death.

Christopher Mana Manuel, 37, a Mongrel Mob member who was getting married the night Rata died and led the fatal bashing, was jailed for 11 years and six months after pleading guilty to manslaughter, aggravated robbery and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Justice P Davison ordered a minimum non-parole period of five years and nine months.

Lester Pairama, 19, a Mongrel Mob prospect, was jailed for eight years and eight months, with no minimum non-parole period after pleading guilty to manslaughter and aggravated robbery.

Joseph Martin, 42, a Mongrel Mob member who had 111 previous convictions, was jailed for three years and five months after admitting conspiring to pervert the course of justice and another of being an accessory after the fact to manslaughter.

Juanita Rafael Wilcox, 27, Martin's partner, was jailed for nine months after pleading guilty to being an accessory after the fact to murder.

Manuel got married to his partner in Kaitaia on New Year's Eve 2015. His wedding attire consisted of a red Mongrel Mob vest over a T-shirt, and red shorts. He also wore a metal Nazi-style helmet.

That evening he was part of a group that chased and seriously assaulted Rata after an argument on Bonnetts Rd in Kaitaia, about 120m down the road from the wedding venue. The argument was about Rata smashing a bottle in the road.

Rata had been drinking that afternoon and evening. He was not invited to the wedding but spoke to several people near the party venue and had earlier smashed a bottle on the ground after a verbal argument with guests, including the bride.

A group, including Pairama and Manuel, chased Rata and yelled at him to pick up the smashed bottle.

Manuel then struck Rata with a closed fist two or three times before he was repeatedly kicked and stomped on as he lay on the ground.

One of the attackers used what police believed was a Nazi-style metal helmet to strike Rata around his head.

Rata died in Whangarei Hospital the next day after his life support was switched off.

His family said his death had a profound and deep affect on them all and no sentence would ever make up for the damage inflicted on them by the perpetrators.

They said hoped those responsible would "get what they deserved'' and that would help them move on.

Nick Rata said Manuel and Pairama had caused much hurt with the killing and robbed his son's two children of their father.

Tua said Rata was somebody who was happy and always enjoying life, and his death had left the family bereft.

New Year's Eve and Day would never be the same for them again. While others were welcoming in the New Year, they would be at Rata's grave.

Rata-Waipouri could not believe all this hurt ''over a broken bottle''.

She lives in Australia and found out about her brother's death via Facebook before her mum and dad knew. She had to inform her parents of the death.

''I was meant to be calling to wish them a happy New Year, not this.''

Rikiti said the death had left her and their two children numb.

''I feel nothing but emptiness. I was wanting the world to end on New Year's Day 2016. That's when my life and our children's lives changed considerably and will never be the same again.''

Justice Davison said Manuel and Pairama were involved in a cowardly and brutal attack on Rata. The beating continuing even after he was unconscious on the ground. The pair also took property from Rata while he was on the ground.

Martin helped to get a young gang prospect to try to take the rap for the killing and also disposed of items from the assault, while Wilcox was involved in helping remove items from the scene.