Prison Term For Park Attack (Press, 29 October 1982)
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Summary: Prison Term For Park Attack (Press, 29 October 1982)
A 20-year-old man, Tini Te Waaka Raymond Te Rangiita, was sentenced to one year in prison for his involvement in the aggravated robbery of a homosexual man near Victoria Lake in Hagley Park. The sentencing took place in the High Court on 29 October 1982, presided over by Mr Justice Roper. Te Rangiita had pleaded guilty to the charges, acknowledging his role in the crime alongside two co-offenders, who were sentenced in the Children and Young Persons Court to a year in a youth prison. The attack occurred when the complainant, a practising homosexual, went to the park intending to meet others with similar inclinations. The offenders assaulted him, stealing his money and car keys. Following the robbery, the stolen car was involved in an accident while being driven by Te Rangiita and his accomplices, but Te Rangiita remained with the injured man until help arrived. During sentencing, Te Rangiita's lawyer highlighted his client's remorse and noted a previous lack of serious offences on his record. The young man had reportedly made a suicide attempt shortly before the hearing due to feelings of shame and a sense of having let down his Māori heritage. By pleading guilty, he avoided putting the court through a trial process. Justice Roper remarked on the gravity of the crime, noting how Te Rangiita had taken advantage of the complainant's vulnerabilities linked to his sexual orientation. The judge also pointed out that all three offenders acted equally in the crime and stated that the complainant had spent three days in the hospital due to his injuries. While expressing disappointment in Te Rangiita's actions, Justice Roper reminded him that at 20 years old, there was still the potential for redemption and a chance to make amends.
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