Judge: Is this what whanau has come to

"Instead of saying this is something we should have put a lid on long ago, you're justifying the actions that have put your son in the dock. If that's what whanau has come to we all have a lot to be worried about." - Judge Greg Davis

A father who spoke in support of his son, appearing for sentence on three convictions of burglary, received very short shrift from Judge Greg Davis in Kaitaia District Court last week.

Abraham David John Morunga's father began by accusing his nephew, the defendant's major victim, of not showing him proper respect as the family elder.

Judge Davis cut him off with, "If you're going to talk like that you can shut up. You are trying to revictimise the fellow who had his gear pinched. If you're going to do that you may as well get in the dock with your son.

"I won't have this in my court.

"These were residential properties in this man's own community," Judge Davis added.

"He was pinching from his own whanau. That is the lowest form of offending in my view. He went to his cousin's home and pinched his gear. How can you and your whanau come here and say it is [the victim's] fault?

"Instead of saying this is something we should have put a lid on long ago, you're justifying the actions that have put your son in the dock. If that's what whanau has come to we all have a lot to be worried about."

Moments earlier the victim had told the court that the 20-year-old defendant, who had been described as remorseful, had not offered any form of apology. He saw some potential value in Judge Davis' offer of a restorative justice process that would give everyone the chance to express their feelings.

Morunga, who was told this was the only chance he was going to get, was sentenced to six months' community detention (to be served at an address in Kaitaia) with 12 months' supervision. He was also ordered to pay reparation of $7465 at the rate of $20 per week.

According to the prosecution Morunga, then living at Panguru, went to a house on Rangi Point Road on October 21, after seeing the occupant leave. The victim's daughter heard noises and went to investigate, finding the defendant in the carport. He ran off, leaving a backpack and a petrol container next to the victim's chainsaw and petrol containers.

Four days later he and an unknown associate went to another address on Rangi Point Rd, the associate forcing a window and opening the door for Morunga, who told police they had broken into a cabinet in search of alcohol. Damage to the value of $250 was done to the cabinet.

Between October 21 and 25 Morunga went to his first cousin's address, next door to his own home on Otengi Rd, stealing property worth $7225. Extensive damage was done to the victim's house bus and sheds on the property.

Police subsequently discovered that Morunga was selling property taken from the address. Those items were retrieved, and a small quantity of property taken in the first burglary was found at his address. A large amount of the property taken in the third offence was still outstanding. Police believed it was stored elsewhere or had perhaps been sold by the defendant.

Morunga told police he had had a spat with his cousin, so decided to "rip him off".

Counsel Wayne Cribb told the court the offences had been committed without great premeditation. His client accepted that he had offended against his community, his whanau and indeed his tupuna, and was deeply ashamed. He was now living in Kaitaia, where he was closer to courses and employment and was described in the pre-sentence report as at low risk of re-offending.