Killer teen's brutal spree while on bail

Victim Thomas Martin with his eldest son, who is now 14 years old. Photo / Supplied

A convicted teenage killer carried out a vicious car-jacking while on bail facing a murder charge.

David Vi was just 14 when he was charged with the murder of Thomas Martin, who was beaten and left for dead in a suburban Auckland park in April 2006. He died in hospital five days later.

Vi, who is now 18, later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to five years in prison by Justice John Hansen in the High Court at Auckland.

Three other teenagers, all connected to Tongan street gangs, were charged over the fatal assault and were later convicted of murder or manslaughter after a jury trial.

Mr Martin, who had two children, was "king-hit" in the face and pummelled by punches and kicks while he lay on the ground. Vi was seen to kick the prone man in the head several times.

"The reality is that this was an unprovoked attack on a lone victim by a group of intoxicated young gang members," said Justice Hansen when sentencing Vi in October.

The Weekend Herald can now reveal that Vi committed an aggravated robbery while on bail for the killing of Mr Martin.

Vi was granted bail in the Youth Court shortly after being charged in April 2006, despite opposition from police, and he was under a strict 24-hour curfew.

His parents even wanted the then 14-year-old to return to school after he was charged with murder, a controversial plan later ruled out by former Education Minister Steve Maharey.

For more than two years, Vi stayed out of trouble until he decided to plead guilty to manslaughter, rather than stand trial for murder in July last year.

Before being taken into custody, Vi had one last night of drunken revelry with friends.

What followed was a crime spree that terrorised a young couple in a car-jacking, a horrific beating of another woman rescued only by a good samaritan, and a high-speed car chase across Auckland.

Vi, Roderick Lanivia and Sailosi Filihia drove along Kohimarama Rd before crashing into the back of a car at the St Heliers Bay Rd intersection.

When the young occupants stepped out of their car to assess the damage, the 17-year-olds launched a vicious assault on them. Vi drove their car around eastern Auckland before leading police on a high-speed chase which ended in Pakuranga.

Lanivia and Filihia fled in their car, crashing into another vehicle in St Heliers and attacking the female driver.

Only the brave intervention of a passerby, who restrained Lanivia until police arrived, saved the woman. Filihia was arrested in nearby Glen Innes.

The victim told the Weekend Herald that Vi should never have been released on bail when facing a murder charge. She feared for her life until a "hero" held down a "kicking and screaming" Lanivia for 20 minutes.

"A person who has exhibited this level of unprovoked violence will attack again, they're not rational," the woman said.

The trio have pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and will be sentenced in the Auckland District Court next month. The maximum penalty is 14 years' prison.

Vi's father, Leon Vi said, "We did the best we could for my son. He's made mistakes but I still support him."