Tangaroa's killer says violence not the answer

A man who killed his 3-year-old stepson wants other parents to know that violence is not the right way to discipline children, according to his lawyer.

Genesis James Mahanga, aged 32, showed no emotion in the High Court at Auckland on Saturday morning when a jury found him guilty of murdering Tangaroa Matiu on January 12 this year.

He was immediately sentenced to life imprisonment.

Mahanga beat the boy with a fence paling and toilet brush in January after the youngster soiled his pants.

The child's mother and Mahanga's partner, Hoana Rose Matiu, 29, was convicted of manslaughter and three counts of causing unnecessary suffering. She was remanded until September 27 for sentencing.

The jury resumed consideration of its verdict at 9 am on Saturday after adjourning overnight.

Mahanga's lawyer, Marie Dyhrberg, said the accused loved his stepson as he loved his own children.

"Clearly what he admitted he did was very, very unreasonable in terms of discipline and these are the sorts of cases I hope, as he does, everyone starts looking at why it is happening and how we can stop it."

That was the message Mahanga wanted to get across, she said.

Ms Dyhrberg said anger management was not a cure for violence. It was deeper than that. Mahanga was brought up in a violent environment.

"There is a very real need to research post-traumatic stress disorder for children who are beaten when they are children and take it on to adulthood."

She said Mahanga had had tough discipline as a child.

"It was using hoses, shoes, straps and spoons. That was the 50s, the 60s and 70s. Constant beating leaves its mark on men and women," Ms Dyhrberg said.

She said Mahanga was stunned and shocked by the verdict but an appeal was unlikely.

"Irrespective of how much you prepare for a verdict it is always devastating."

Detective Senior Sergeant Peter Evans said police were happy with the guilty verdicts, which sent a message to families to look at their own situation and make sure they did not mirror Mahanga's actions.

Justice Rod Hansen told the jurors that it had been a long and difficult trial which they had approached with great care and consideration.

The jury was a vital part of the administration of justice, he said.

Outside the court, the dead boy's grandfather, John Matiu, said it was a very sad day and he still mourned the death of his grandson. Mr Matiu said he would not want to see or speak to Mahanga again but still loved his daughter, Hoana, and prayed for her and her other children every day.

He said Hoana would be finding it hard to deal with the guilty verdict after the death of her son.

Mr Matiu said he was grieving deeply for his grandson.

He blamed Mahanga for the death. "I can't really think about him."

- NZPA