Teen jailed for four years

Rarua Edwardson can grow up, get married and have children.

The 16-year-old she killed cannot.

Edwardson, 17, was found guilty in the High Court at Rotorua in March of the manslaughter of her former friend and distant relative, Mellissa Puhi.

The jury found Edwardson not guilty of murdering Miss Puhi but guilty of the lesser charge.

Before Justice Lyn Stevens sentenced Edwardson to four years and nine months jail yesterday, the victim's family told the High Court of their loss.

On May 13, 2006 at Turangi, Edwardson stabbed Miss Puhi in the neck after an argument and fight between the pair.

She died in an ambulance on the way to Taupo Hospital.

It was the night before Mother's Day, a day Miss Puhi's mother, Kimiora Puhi, should have enjoyed.

"Instead of joy we found ourselves thrust into an absolute nightmare with the murder of our daughter," Mrs Puhi said. She did not appreciate Edwardson claiming self defence in the trial.

instead of claiming self defence.

"If you were sincerely sorry for what you had done, you would not have taken the whanau through all the pain of a trial."

The death of Miss Puhi, better known as Pep, affected the whole family.

"Our arms are empty, our hearts ache, we will never see Pep grow up, get married or have children," Mrs Puhi said.





Pep is the second child Mrs Puhi has lost in four years.

Her 2-year-old son, Rangi, was accidentally run over in 2002.

Pep's sister, Terressa Puhi, said "Rarua ruined my life" and "I will never forgive her for it".

"Imagine the worst pain in the world and times that by infinity.

"It will never go away, ever, not even time will heal it. We will only learn to cope with it," she said.

Pep's family said during the trial she was made out to be a bully.

"Our daughter was like most teenagers always pushing the boundaries, but she was not a drunken bully," Mrs Puhi said.

"She was kind, generous, thoughtful and had a great sense of humour," Pep's aunty Mellissa Puhi said.

Pep was stabbed outside her cousin Temania Grattan's house before she waited for an ambulance inside.

"There are days that I sit at my window and look at the place where it happened and cry for her," Mrs Grattan said.

In his submissions, Crown Solicitor Fletcher Pilditch said aggravating factors included Edwardson carrying a knife for protection while consuming alcohol.

Armed, she also entered a confrontation with Miss Puhi, who was unarmed. Mr Pilditch said that proved some pre-meditation.

While he accepted Edwardson offered to plead guilty to manslaughter, he said it was the day before the trial so she couldn't be given full credit.

Edwardson's lawyer, Brett Cooper, said his client's age, remorse, co-operation with police and low-risk of re-offending were all mitigating factors. She also had no previous convictions.

In sentencing Edwardson, Justice Stevens raised concerns about Turangi youth accessing alcohol.

"This is an area where the parents ... of those concerned must take a good hard look at themselves," he said.

Outside court, Mrs Puhi said she had never bought alcohol for Pep.

Since her death, Mrs Puhi had even gone to parties for the purpose of taking youth home. Kicking them out did not work because she said youth would congregate in the streets instead.

While she was disappointed at the outcome, she accepted it.

"I'm a little bit hurt at it, but she's young.

"Hopefully she gets some counselling ... I don't hate her."

Edwardson's mother did not want to make any comment when asked by the Daily Post.