SENTENCED: In the High Court at Rotorua yesterday are (from left) Norton Taoho, David Rewi, Joshua-Lesley Whitu, Neville Duff and Hemi Winitana.
Neville Duff, 33, was sentenced to two years and 10 months' jail and David Te Wharerangi Rewi was sentenced to two years and six months' jail after they were each found guilty of participating in a criminal group.
Whitu, Winitana, Duff and Rewi were found guilty last month of the charges they faced after a trial in the High Court.
A gang fight broke out in Murupara's Tawa St between the Mongrel Mob and Tribesmen associates early on October 3, 2009, after "tit-for-tat" incidents.
All five men sentenced were affiliated with the Mongrel Mob. Kaine Lewis died after the gang fight from two fatal blows to his head, which split his scalp, fracturing his skull and causing his brain to swell rapidly. He died in the ambulance on the way to Rotorua Hospital.
Ian Lewis (left) read out his victim impact statement in court and said he was very close to his son, who he saw every day and who he went pig hunting with.
Mr Lewis said he saw his son's body at the morgue.
"Seeing him on a cold hard slab ... I just couldn't believe it. I was gutted to lose my boy. This is not the way it should have been. ... They didn't have to go that far ... He didn't deserve to die."
Mr Lewis said he did not think he would be able to see the five men on the street without "losing it".
Justice John Priestley said the brawl did not result out of self defence.
"It was a deliberate attempt to have a fight. It was a confrontation you were spoiling for and you were prepared for."
Justice Priestley described Murupara as a "sad and on occasions dangerous town".
Gang violence had bedevilled the town for three years with another murder, incidents of violence and vehicles used as weapons.
Major conflict between the Mongrel Mob and the Tribesmen gangs continued.
Justice Priestley said it could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt who inflicted the fatal blows, but Taoho was seen hitting Kaine's head.
Justice Priestley said Taoho was a Mongrel Mob prospect and hoped to become a patched member which was alarming.
Taoho did not appear to show remorse and felt angry someone had died, Justice Priestley said.
Whitu had been suspended from school as he had been under the influence of drugs on a daily basis.
Whitu felt sad someone had died but described the night of Kaine's death as "just another night in Murupara". His motivation to change was low, the judge said.
Winitana was already serving a four-year jail term on a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm - an offence he had committed while on bail, Justice Priestley said. Winitana had been prepared to plead guilty to a charge of manslaughter a year ago.
Justice Priestley said Duff, who was an associate of the Mongrel Mob, was mature enough to take himself out of the Mongrel Mob and he had led others astray.
Duff had written a letter in which he expressed remorse and insight into his offending.
Rewi had offered an apology to the victim's family.
