Three Nelson gang members sent to prison over death of Lake Takimoana

Alan Swan Norman, left, Tremain Whetu Wiremu Vic Turfry-Ross, and Tukotahi King during sentencing today in the High Court at Nelson. Photo / Stuff

The victim of a gang-related killing in Nelson was “too good for this world”, his mother said through tears today.

Tukotahi King, Tremain Whetu Wiremu Vic Turfry-Ross, and Alan Swan Norman have been sentenced to prison in the High Court at Nelson on charges related to the death of Lake Takimoana in February last year after a home invasion.

Takimoana’s sister described through tears as she read her victim impact statement to the court that her brother was the heart of the family, now broken by what had happened.

King was initially charged with murder, Turfry-Ross, 26, with being party to murder, while Norman was initially charged with aggravated burglary.

They pleaded guilty to amended charges two days into a trial this year.

King, 32, described as the lead offender, was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison for manslaughter, with a minimum parole period of five years and six months.

Turfry-Ross was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison on charges of manslaughter and arson.

Norman, 33, was sentenced to four years and eight months on charges of aggravated burglary, arson and being an accessory after the fact to manslaughter, with no minimum parole period sought.

The defendants, who were all associated with the Killer Beez gang, knew Takimoana, 22, and his partner.

At 1.13pm on February 22 last year the defendants and at least one unknown associate travelled in a Toyota Hilux ute and a black Mazda Axela driven by Norman, to the victim’s home in Nelson.

One parked in the driveway and the other across the driveway entrance.

Justice Andru Isac in the High Court at Nelson today sentenced three men in relation to the death of Lake Takimoana in February 2022. Photo / Stuff

King, Turfry-Ross and the associate ran to the house while Norman waited by the vehicles.

A summary of facts said there was no evidence Norman knew they had a gun but he knew about the bats, which were large enough to be visible to witnesses from some distance away.

King and Turfry-Ross had disguised their faces with “neck gaiters” pulled up over their mouths, while the associate wore a balaclava.

King carried the gun - described today as a pistol, which was about 30 centimetres long and had a wooden stock.

Takimoana was in his bedroom with his partner and saw the defendants so went to the front door.

After entering the house King pointed the firearm at Takimoana and walked him backwards towards the bedroom, where they told him to get on the ground.

The victim’s partner recognised King and Turfry-Ross as they had only the lower part of their face covered.

The defendants demanded to know where the “dog sh*t” was - a derogatory term used by rival gangs to describe a member of the Mongrel Mob.

Takimoana replied there were “no dogs in the house”. King then slapped him in the head and he fell backwards onto the bed.

King lay beside Takimoana with the loaded gun pointed at his chest.

The firearm discharged. The bullet pierced Takimoana’s heart and lung before stopping at his spine. The defendants and the associate then fled.

Despite attempts by his partner to save him, Takimoana died at the scene.

Justice Andru Isac said aggravating features included that he was vulnerable, unarmed and confronted by armed assailants.

Norman dropped Turfry-Ross at a motel in Tahunanui before getting into a green Suzuki Vitara driven by an associate.

They drove to a nearby fuel station where Norman filled a plastic jerry can with petrol, knowing by then Takimoana was dead.

Turfry-Ross then drove the Mazda to the Appleby Bridge in Tasman, followed soon after by Norman and the associate in the green Vitara.

Shortly after midnight on February 24 last year Turfry-Ross set fire to the Mazda, completely destroying it.

The Hilux ute was later found by the side of a road in Blenheim.

Takimoana’s sister said her brother was pure and rare, and “had more than enough love for everyone”.

“He was loyal like no other.”

Lawyer for the Crown, Jackson Webber said the “very powerful, dignified” victim impact statements highlighted how senseless and pointless Takimoana’s death was.

But it was also predictable: “A group of men from one gang taking weapons and confronting someone from a rival gang and someone got killed”, Webber said.

He said it did not make the situation any better that Takimoana was not the man they were looking for, and that he had been an innocent bystander, in his own bedroom, minding his own business.

King’s lawyer, Auckland barrister Iswari Jayanandan, said the manslaughter charge he eventually admitted ought to have been resolved earlier and he deserved credit for what in effect became an early guilty plea to that amended charge.

Turfry-Ross, a 501 deportee, had since his return to New Zealand from Australia been largely isolated, on his own with little support, his lawyer Tony Bamford said.

As a result, he had gravitated towards gangs for support and practical assistance.

He said the target of the “ridiculous escapade” was not in fact the occupant of the house, and the tragedy for everyone was that Takimoana had been a friend of Turfry-Ross, and their respective partners had also been close friends.

“He carries a heavy burden and will do so for years, if not his whole life.”

Justice Isac said he hadn’t been an “idle bystander”, and that while Takimoana’s death was not intended, Turfry-Ross nonetheless knew it was a possible consequence of their actions that day that someone “might get shot”.

The lawyer for Norman, John Sandston said he was another example of how society had failed those in state care.

“It doesn’t excuse him but it’s a big factor among many that the court needs to take into account.”

Sandston said Norman had been “shelved away”, and had no choice about being disunited from his whānau, but he did have a choice about his later addiction to methamphetamine.

Justice Isac acknowledged the grief and immense loss faced by Takimoana’s whānau.

“Nothing I can say will make their suffering any easier and none of us should lose sight of the fact a young life has been lost.”

Justice Isac acknowledged the defendants’ childhoods marred by violence, deprivation and substance abuse, and that it was no real surprise they had gravitated toward gangs.

Tracy Neal is a Nelson-based Open Justice reporter at NZME. She was previously RNZ’s regional reporter in Nelson-Marlborough and has covered general news, including court and local government for the Nelson Mail.