Police killer had bashed other officers

By Stacey Bodger

ROTORUA - The man who kicked Constable Murray Stretch to death in Mangakino had just finished a jail term for assaulting three other policemen.

Carlos Namana was sentenced in August last year to 12 months in prison for punching the senior Tokoroa officers. He served six or seven months.

The 20-year-old self-proclaimed thug was out on parole on May 26 when he bashed and kicked Constable Stretch to death.

Yesterday, in the High Court at Rotorua, Namana suddenly admitted murdering the constable.

The hearing was originally intended to set a trial date. Instead, Justice Nicholson sentenced Namana to life imprisonment and the prisoner was led away smirking.

Namana's lawyer, Paul Mabey, said his client admitted he was trouble to police but denied having animosity towards Constable Stretch.

"He thinks Mr Stretch was the most supportive [officer] ... He makes no excuse but if he could turn back the clock, he would."

Born and bred in Mangakino, like the man he killed, Namana aimed to be like his father, Willy, a former Huhu gang member.

At 1.85m and 110kg, Carlos Namana was the largest man in town. Police said they were intimidated by his size and his mood swings.

Namana modelled himself on a violent American wrestler known as "The Rock" and would challenge people to "take on The Rock."

Officers were warned not to approach him alone. But Constable Stretch was the only one of Mangakino's three constables in town on May 26, when he was called to the burglary of a main street cafe.

He found Namana kneeling on the grass of the hospital grounds across the road from the cafe, loading a haul of stolen lollies, chips and chewing gum into his shirt.

Namana knocked Constable Stretch unconscious and killed him with three stomps to the head. He yelled to witnesses, "If he's not dead yet, he soon will be."

Yesterday, the Crown asked the judge to impose a longer minimum parole period than the usual 10 years for life. A hearing on that matter will be held next month.

Constable Stretch's family, including his two sons, were in court when Namana pleaded guilty.

Afterwards the constable's partner, Claire Horton, said the matter would never be closed for her.

Constable Stretch's sister, Winsome Stretch, resolved not to be bitter. "I hope he will use his sentence to rehabilitate and become a good New Zealand citizen."