Fateful punch outside pub destroys 2 lives

The judge told Daniel Kerisiano Senelale he should feel he could still live a good life. File picture / Simon Baker

A single punch has turned a teenage golden boy into a killer and cost him his freedom.

That punch was all it took for Timaru Boys High School prefect and promising sportsman Daniel Kerisiano Senelale to cause the death of father-of-three Mark Anthony Smith.

The blow, prompted by racial taunts during a night out drinking in Timaru in February, caused Mr Smith to fall and hit his head on the road, inflicting severe brain injuries. His family agreed to turn off his life support and he was dead a day after being struck.

Yesterday Senelale, 18, who earlier pleaded guilty to manslaughter, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years' jail by Justice John Fogarty in the High Court at Timaru.

Senelale bowed his head and showed little emotion as Mr Smith's family sobbed in the public gallery.

His lawyer, Wayne Van Vuuren, said the punch in itself caused only minor injuries, yet Senelale blamed himself completely for what had happened.

He had chased Mr Smith, 30, down the street to get an apology after he made a racist remark to two Samoan pub doormen about 5.40am on February 27.

"If he could take back that one punch, he would," Mr Van Vuuren said.

"But of course he can't.

"All he can offer is to live a decent life himself and seek the help that he needs," Mr Van Vuuren said.

Mr Smith's brother Kevin told the court the death was "a waste of a good man".

"Having to turn off Mark's life support and watch helplessly as Mark slowly died 10 hours later will haunt us for ever."

Mr Smith's mother, Carol Lash, said: "Never did I think I would be praying for my son to die. No one should suffer like he did".

Mr Smith's death had left his twin brother, Paul, in counselling and unable to work, while others in the family had been fearful of meeting Senelale in the street.

The Smith family met Senelale in a restorative justice conference on Tuesday and accepted an apology from him.

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world," Kevin Smith said.

Justice Fogarty said Mr Smith's death would not have occurred if Senelale had not been drinking and had controlled his anger.

Those were flaws in an otherwise "remarkably strong personality".

The judge told Senelale: "You have to serve your time.

"Having done that, you should feel you can live a good life."

Outside court, Mrs Lash said she was happy with the sentence given to Senelale.

"He is very remorseful and I think he has really realised that he has really done an injustice to both families."

Mr Smith said he hoped his brother's death would make people stop to think before using their fists.

"A lot of people have been in that situation, and it's so easy to do."