A unemployed man begins a life sentence today for the murder of his three-year-old stepson Tangaroa Matiu.
Genesis James Mahanga, 32, of Massey, Auckland, was found guilty of the murder by a jury at the High Court in Auckland this morning.
During the trial, the court heard how on January12 of this year, Mahanga beat the child to death with a fence paling and toilet brush after the child soiled his pants.
Tangaroa's mother, Hoana Rose Matiu, 29, was found guilty of manslaughter and three charges of causing unnecessary suffering.
