Man pleads guilty to manslaughter

A 24-year-old man has admitted the manslaughter of a teenager who was fatally injured by a car outside a family birthday party in south Auckland in 2008.

In the High Court at Auckland today, Spencer Purcell pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Senituli Siulua, 17, who died after being struck by a car in Papatoetoe early on April 26, 2008. He also pleaded guilty to two charges of intent to cause grievous bodily harm to Samson George Ofanoa and Jerrie Tere Enuake.

Three other men - Ekuini Purcell, 21, Ralph Wendt, 23, and Timo Faauli, 23 - pleaded not guilty to three charges of injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to Japhtha William Ofanoa, Samson George Ofanoa and Mr Enuake and one charge of assaulting a female partygoer, Hinemoa Tauelangi, before Mr Siulua was struck.

Crown prosecutor Lorraine Macdonald told the jury the incident happened after a 19th birthday party, which was attended by about 20 extended family members and a couple of family friends.

Partygoer Japhtha Ofanoa wanted to leave by car about 1am but he was highly intoxicated so family members hid his car keys. He stormed off from the address on foot, followed by his half-sister, Ms Tauelangi, who attempted to persuade him to go back to the party, the jury was told.

As Japhtha Ofanoa crossed the road, three cars pulled up in convoy. Wendt, the driver of the first car, became angry at the time it took Japhtha Ofanoa to cross the road. He stopped his vehicle as did the other two drivers. Faauli allegedly leapt from his car and began attacking Japhtha Ofanoa.

Ms Tauelangi called out for others to help her brother, and another partygoer, Samson Ofanoa, came to help.

Samson Ofanoa was allegedly attacked by Spencer Purcell and the three accused, and he was punched to the ground and his head stomped on.

More partygoers became aware of the incident and came from the address in numbers.

Spencer Purcell then got into his vehicle to drive away but stopped near the other accused, who were still fighting on the street. He got out of his car and went to help Faauli assault a second person, Jerry Enuake, who was punched to the ground and kicked about the head.

Spencer Purcell then got into his car, revved his engine several times and drove into Mr Siulua as he left the scene.

Mr Siulua was left lying unconscious on the road and taken to Middlemore Hospital, where he was put on life support. It was turned off when the extent of his brain injuries was known.

A post mortem revealed he died from a massive fracture to the back of his skull and a head injury consistent with falling backwards.

There were also abrasions across his left thigh and skin abrasions down his right shin consistent with having been run over by a car.

Japhtha Ofanoa lost consciousness during the attack, suffered bruising and grazes and lost a tooth.

Mr Enuake and George Ofanoa suffered bruising, cuts and abrasions.

Ms Macdonald said the intentions of the three accused were to inflict serious harm to these men while they were on the ground.

"The attack involved a gratuitous level of violence, which continued even when the men were lying on the ground," Ms Macdonald said.

She told the court they were set upon by multiple attackers using punches and kicks, and the attack stopped only when other partygoers came out on to the street.

Proceeding.

- NZPA