Two women sentenced to life imprisonment for murder of Rau Tongia

Two women convicted of the murder of Karori man Rau Tongia have been sentenced to life imprisonment.

In a trial spanning three months earlier this year, a jury found Shayde Carolyn Weston, who was accused of shooting Tongia, guilty of murder.

She was sentenced to life imprisonment with a 14-year minimum sentence.

Justice Andru Isac told Weston that shooting Tongia while he slept was a cowardly thing to do and held no mana.

Weston's second cousin Pania Ella Waaka, who had previously admitted to driving Weston to the house, but denied knowing she intended to shoot someone, was also found guilty of murder.

She was sentenced to life imprisonment with a 10-year minimum sentence.

Justice Isac said Waaka's only involvement had been driving Weston, which gave her less culpability.

Weston's half-sister Breeze Hunt-Weston was also sentenced today.

During the trial she was not found guilty of murder, but was found guilty of accessory after the fact to murder for helping move the shotgun following Tongia's death.

She was also found guilty of an additional charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm for hitting Tongia on the head with a hammer in an altercation just hours before his death.

Justice Isac said Hunt-Weston may have hit Tongia to defend her sister, but he believed the force used was excessive.

On the charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm Hunt-Weston was sentenced to five and half years imprisonment while and on the charge of accessory after the fact to murder she was served to 20 months imprisonment, to be served concurrently.

Another woman Louise Kelly Hume, also stood trial, but was acquitted.

Several members of both Tongia's and the defendants' families were in the courtroom during the sentencing.

Tongia's aunt Takatai Tongia in her victim impact statement told the court the family had been waiting four years for justice.

She said Tongia was the second child his parents had lost.

She said he also had three children himself that were missing out on a life with him.

His former partner Faith Tongia told the court Tongia had been an active father and his death had destroyed the lives of many.

Rawinia Te Namu, who said she considered Tongia to be like a son, said his death had affected everything in her life from her job to her marriage.

Tongia's cousin Stacey Tongia said his death had been devastating, while cousin Amanda Tongia said four years had been a long time for his whānau to suffer.

Following the sentencing, many members of Tongia's family reacted angrily and yelled out his name as the defendants left the courtroom.