KEY POINTS:
Jio-Pene Sauaki, the man found guilty of murdering teenager Kelly Lawrence, was out on bail for another violent South Auckland attack when he fatally stabbed the 18-year-old.
A jury at the High Court at Auckland took just under five hours to find Sauaki guilty after a two-week murder trial.
It can now be revealed that Sauaki was also involved in another high-profile South Auckland attack.
The 20-year-old was the driver in a violent attack in which JCB - Juvanyle Crip Boys - members left two members of rival youth gang PDB - Penion Dosina Boys - fighting for their lives during Labour weekend 2005.
A PDB member retaliated by murdering the father of a JCB member, starting the string of violent South Auckland youth gang murders.
Sauaki was originally charged with attempted murder - although it was reduced to wounding with intent - for his role in the Labour weekend attack.
He denied being part of the gang and was released on bail but soon breached the conditions when he took to his girlfriend's car with a baseball bat.
He reappeared in court over the breach, but despite the crown strongly opposing bail he was released again - and went on to commit murder.
On the evening of July 8 last year, while still on bail with conditions that included a night-time curfew, the then 19-year-old left his Manurewa home with his two younger brothers.
Late that night his path crossed that of Kelly Lawrence, who was in the middle of the road with other teens who had left a nearby party.
Sauaki claims he walked into the middle of a threatening situation where there were up to four gangs.
He says Mr Lawrence threw a punch and he was trying to protect his younger brothers when he pulled out a large hunting knife and plunged it into the drunken teen's chest, cutting through two ribs, a lung and his heart. Mr Lawrence bled to death in minutes.
The jury rejected Sauaki's claim that the killing was in self-defence, instead believing the crown claim the knife attack was unwarranted and had nothing to do with gangs.
Sauaki is now awaiting sentencing on the murder charge. He is also awaiting sentencing on the Labour weekend incident after he was found guilty of injuring with intent following his trial on that offence this year.
Sauaki's mother Linda Sauaki said her family was sorry for what happened.
"We are sorry that [Mr Lawrence's family] have lost a son. I don't know how they feel because I still see my son every day but to me I've lost my son as well to prison.
"My son has to live with what [he did] and he is sorry. He has to live with taking a life for the rest of his life."
Mr Lawrence's aunt, who wanted to be known only as Joanne, said her family was still coming to terms with the teenager's death. "He was a good boy, with no gang relationship whatsoever."
Joanne said her nephew usually attended church-run boxing classes on a Saturday night. His father was in the SAS and had plans for the youngster to join the Army.
