Rau Tongia murder: Convicted killers to be sentenced

Three women who were found guilty by a jury on charges related to the death of Rau Tongia - including two of murder - including two convicted of murder - will be sentenced on Thursday at the High Court in Wellington,

Tongia was shot in the back in his Karori home in December 2020.

Following a three month trial, Shayde Carolyn Weston - who was accused of shooting Tongia - was found guilty of his murder.

Her 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.

Weston's half-sister Breeze Hunt-Weston 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.

Hunt-Weston 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.

A fourth woman - Louise Kelly Hume - also stood trial, accused of assisting in sourcing the shotgun, but the jury found her to be not guilty.

All four women had entered not guilty pleas at the start of the trial.

A fifth woman, whose name is still suppressed, was also to initially stand trial but was excused for health reasons.

Two other people accused of hiding a firearm believed to be used in Tongia's death have previously been sentenced. Tain Tararo was sentenced in March of this year, while Phoenix Colvin was sentenced in 2022.