Jail for family of burglars

By TONY STICKLEY and JOSIE CLARKE

Three members of one family have received record prison sentences for an unprecedented series of burglaries after New Zealand's longest and most costly trial.

The trial - described by the judge as unique - cost about $2.5 million in legal fees alone.

Phillip Tukuafu was jailed for 13 1/2 years by Judge Charles Blackie, and Rex and John Tukuafu were each sentenced to 12 1/2 years' jail.

Alex Tukuafu and Leon White received five-year terms, Reece Tukuafu 3 1/2 years and Steven Tukuafu nine months suspended for 18 months with six months' periodic detention.

The longest previous sentence for burglary was nine years.

The seven, most with long criminal histories, were found guilty by a jury last year on a total of 247 charges, mainly burglary. There were 14 not guilty verdicts.

Because of lack of space at the new Manukau District Court, where sentence was passed yesterday, the trial was held in the High Court building in Auckland.

It lasted more than six months, involved 17 lawyers, about 600 witnesses and 700 exhibits and cost the taxpayer $2.5 million in legal fees.

Judge Blackie said the case was unique as it involved a number of brothers, the son of one of them and a father-in-law.

With the exception of Steven Tukuafu, who had no previous criminal history, the rest could be described only as recidivist offenders. Their convictions totalled 650, of which 328 were for burglary.

The sheer volume of offending made the case unique, the judge said.

Crown counsel Anne Kiernan told the judge that Rex, Philip and John Tukuafu were the prime movers in the family burglary business.

"These prisoners are the most successful, organised and prolific commercial burglars in the Auckland area, and indeed within New Zealand.

"This is a position they have held for a number of years. They have not been deterred by previous sentences."

Judge Blackie said the evidence against the family on the vast majority of charges was overwhelming, yet they had chosen to contest the charges "against the odds".

The evidence included bugged conversations and surveillance videos of burglaries in progress.

The judge described the family as a skilled and professional team who had honed their burglary technique to a fine art over the years to minimise risk and maximise returns.

Small businesses such as dairies and service stations were targeted, the raids timed for daybreak when there were fewer people around.

Wearing disguises and gloves, they would smash their way in, grabbing mostly cigarettes, which they threw into a wool bale. The routine would be over in 90 seconds.

Altogether, property valued at just over $447,000 was stolen and damage to property amounted to $104,000.

Rex Tukuafu, aged 40, of Manurewa, who had 88 previous convictions, 34 of them for burglary, was found guilty on 59 counts, including 42 of burglary, and 15 of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle. He has served four earlier jail terms for burglary.

Phillip Tukuafu, 47, of Manurewa, with 112 previous convictions, 46 for burglary, and five previous jail sentences for burglary, was found guilty on 90 charges, including 63 of burglary and 25 of unlawful taking.

John Tukuafu, 48, of Papatoetoe, with 54 previous convictions, 19 for burglary, and four jail terms for burglary, was found guilty on 62 counts including 46 of burglary and 14 of unlawful taking.

Alex Tukuafu, 49, of Pukekohe, with 35 previous convictions, 18 for burglary, and two prison terms for burglary, was found guilty of six burglaries and three counts of unlawful taking.

Reece Tukuafu, 37, of Glenfield, who has 51 previous convictions, 17 for burglary, and four jail terms for burglary, was found guilty of two burglaries and two counts of unlawful taking.

Steven Tukuafu, 25, of Tuakau, who had no previous convictions, was found guilty of one burglary and one count of unlawful taking.

Leon White, 59, of Manurewa, who has 77 previous convictions over 45 years, including 16 for burglary, was found guilty on 21 burglary charges. He has served six previous terms for burglary.

Rex Tukuafu tried to address the court in support of the family of slain Waitara man Steven Wallace, but was stopped by Judge Blackie, who ordered him removed to the cells.

After the hearing, the officer in charge of the case, Detective Sergeant Bruce Howard, described the Tukuafus as a family of recidivist burglars who took a professional approach.

"Unless they are in jail, they won't stop."

He believed their conviction represented only a "smidgen" of what the family had actually done. He believed that they had got away with 90 to 95 per cent of their burglaries.

He personally felt it was "outrageous" that the case went to trial in the form it did, costing the taxpayer $2.5 million.

"The judge said they elected to defend it in the face of overwhelming evidence. I take that as a vote of support from the judge."

Defence lawyers said afterwards that they were bound by their instructions. If their clients insisted on pleading not guilty, as lawyers they were duty bound to represent them to the best of their abilities.