Olympic boxer killed his baby

A boxer chosen to represent New Zealand at the Athens Olympics was previously jailed for killing his daughter.

Soulan Pownceby is the only boxer in New Zealand's Olympic team.

In 1995, when he was known as Soulan Rikihana, he was sentenced to four years' jail for killing his five-month-old daughter.

Aged 20 at the time, Pownceby was found guilty of manslaughter but not guilty of murder after the High Court at Christchurch heard how he dropped his daughter while his de facto wife was out getting takeaways.

The child died of injuries suffered when she was physically assaulted.

The Auckland light-heavyweight won New Zealand's solitary gold medal in the men's division at the Oceania championships before gaining Olympic selection.

Pownceby featured on TVNZ's Road to Athens, about athletes striving to make the Games.

His "struggle for recognition on both sides of the boxing ropes" was promised to be one of the show's most "talked about and moving stories".

His ambition to succeed was said to come from a "dark and lonely place". Pownceby talked about being deserted by his US Navy father. His mother died from cancer when he was 17 and his sister was killed by an abusive partner, viewers were told.

While his manslaughter conviction was discussed, no details were given.

One News reported last night that Pownceby had other convictions, including one for assaulting a woman.

Pownceby said he should be allowed to compete. Some people might have good reason to oppose his participation, he said, "but I've got to focus on the positives".

The secretary-general of the NZ Olympic Committee, Barry Maister, said Pownceby was investigated because of his past and a police report was obtained.

"All reports indicated he should be in the team," he said.

"He is committed to boxing. We decided there was no reason why he could not be a good role model."

Mr Maister said the committee was in a "lose-lose situation no matter what we do".

Boxing NZ chairman Keith Walker also supported Pownceby's place in the Olympic team.

"He's put it in the past and we have certainly put it in the past and we have no trouble with that and Soulan.

"I believe he's had some problems with it in the past but I think he's overcome that now and he's fully focused on the job ahead of him."

- STAFF REPORTER, NZPA