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Renata Haimona
.
Grevious bodily harm of a 19 year old man in Tauranga in December 2008
.
none known
Born 1987
Prison
Sentenced to 8 years 6 months with a 4 year non-parole period in December 2010
Background
From Rotorua Daily Post story 3rd December 2010
A Rotorua man has been jailed for more than eight years for his role in an alcohol-fuelled bashing, which left a man with a fractured skull and serious brain injury. In August, a Tauranga jury found Renata Haimona, 23, of Rotorua, guilty of a joint charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Haimona's cousin Joseph Paul, 21, of Katikati, pleaded guilty to one count of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and one count of injuring with intent to injure, at the end of the Crown case being presented to the jury.
The 19-year-old victim, Will Brownlie-Blackburn, was attending a Christmas function for the Tango and Cha Dance Studio at the Bethlehem Hall on December 20, 2008, when he and his friend Ethan Heagren, 20, were attacked about 9.30pm, after they stepped outside for fresh air. After being punched and kicked, including taking blows to his head while on the ground, Mr Brownlie-Blackburn was left with a fractured skull and a serious brain injury, and was placed into an induced coma for 15 days.
Mr Heagren, also assaulted by Paul after he came to his friend's aid, was left bloodied and bruised with a broken nose, a cut mouth and extensive bruising. A third accused, 17-year-old Regan Soderholm, of Katikati, was acquitted at trial. Paul and Haimona, who were sentenced in Tauranga District Court this week, were jailed for eight years and nine months and eight years and six months respectively. The pair must serve at least four years in jail after Judge Peter Rollo imposed a minimum non-parole period.
Crown prosecutor Greg Hollister-Jones said Paul's attempt to minimise his role in the attack, despite his guilty pleas, made his participation in a restorative justice meeting "somewhat of a sham" and was at odds with his expressions of remorse. But Paul's lawyer Glenn Dixon rejected the sham suggestion. Mr Dixon said Paul was genuinely remorseful, had apologised, and recognised he had not only "dismantled" his life but that of Mr Brownlie-Blackburn, and planned to take advantage of the rehabilitative courses while in prison and become a better man.
Haimona's lawyer Louis Te Kani said glowing references before the court spoke volumes about Haimona, who would also take advantage of the rehabilitative programmes in prison. However, Judge Rollo described the attack as serious "unprovoked gratuitous street violence" on two fine young men, which had devastating consequences, particularly for Mr Brownlie-Blackburn.
This was a talented young man with a bright future ahead of him, particularly in the performing arts, and whose future prognosis in terms of his rehabilitation was now uncertain, the judge said. In a brief statement, Mr Heagren's parents Rhys and Susannah said it had been a harrowing two years, not only for the two victims but for both their families. "We are pleased this ordeal has come to a conclusion and we can now endeavour to put this behind us and move on with all our lives."
