Appeal against conviction for murder – appellant faced two cumulative charges of murder for the death of the same victim, convicted of murder and manslaughter – consequences of charging error – was the murder verdict unreasonable? – did the omission to provide second page of pathologist’s evidence to the jury result in a miscarriage? – appeal against refusal of permanent name suppression: presumption of name suppression for young offenders?
Ronaki-Wihapi v R [2025] NZCA 298
On Boxing Day in 2022, Rereamanu Ronaki-Wihapi, then aged 17 years, drove a vehicle into Taku Paul after being instructed to do so by his mother who believed that Paul, her partner, had stolen money from her. The vehicle hit Paul with such force that he struck the windscreen before landing on the road.
After hitting Paul, Ronaki-Wihapi did a U-turn, saw Paul lying on the ground and made a split-second decision to line up the wheel with his head and accelerate towards him. The vehicle drove over Paul’s chest and then sped away from the scene. There was approximately 13 seconds between the first and second collision.
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