Rotorua man Hughie Ransfield sentenced for murdering his friend

A Rotorua man who beat his 20-year-old friend in a “frenzied and savage” attack has been sent to jail for life with a minimum probation period of 14 years.

Hughie Ransfield, 59, was sentenced today in Rotorua High Court after previously pleading guilty to the murder of Maui Haukamau at a home on Te Ngae Rd on May 20 this year.

The court heard that Ransfield asked Haukamau about some money that Ransfield believed his friend owed and Haukamau laughed and told him to “f *****”, enraging Ransfield.

Ransfield grabbed a nearby piece of metal pipe and hit Haukamau on the head several times as hard as he could.

He later told police that Haukamau “signed his own death warrant for failing to pay for his tick,” which he said was about $ 3,500.

Crown attorney Amanda Gordon said Haukamau would have been surprised after enjoying a day drinking with Ransfield, someone she considered a friend.

“It was a frenzied and savage attack and involved a high degree of brutality.”

More than 10 members of Haukamau’s family were present in court with two family members standing behind Haukamau’s partner, Hirāna Hune-Hona, and their son holding them by the shoulders during sentencing.

Hune-Hona, Haukamau’s partner of 23 years, approached Judge Christian Whata and read his victim impact statement while standing in front of a photograph of Haukamau.

She read her statement in Maori, which was translated into English, and explained the Maori mythology of Maui and how her husband got her name.

She said he was the father of five children, one of whom was by his side as he made his way to court, and a grandfather of ten.

He said that he was a hardworking man, had a great ability to speak and had many skills that he passed on to his children.

“This has not yet been resolved. The father’s blood is still in the garage.”

He said the family did not agree with the facts that were told about Haukamau.

“It’s hard to allow that to go ahead at this point.”

The murder occurred on the afternoon of May 20 when Ransfield went to Haukamau’s home. The couple bought a case of beer and some cannabis before heading back to Ransfield’s home on Te Ngae Rd.

At 4 p.m., after the couple drank half a case of beer each, Ransfield asked Haukamau about the money he believed his friend owed.

Ransfield grabbed a nearby piece of metal tube and hit Haukamau on the head several times, the ferocity of the blows causing the metal tube to snap in two.

Ransfield continued to hit the deceased’s head with the remaining half of the metal tube to make sure the deceased did not get up.

He then called the emergency services, requesting an ambulance and police. He said that he had “hit his friend” and that he thought he had killed him.

Haukamau suffered significant blunt force trauma to the back of his head. The blows fractured the skull and lacerated the dura mater, causing extensive subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Arama Ngapo-Lipscombe appeared for Ransfield and argued that he was sorry despite his explanation to the police that day.

He said that after what happened, Ransfield vomited three times, gasped and began to cry.

“He said ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, what have I done? I’m sorry, bro, I’m sorry,'” Ngapo-Lipscombe said.

She highlighted his hearing impairment, saying that he was profoundly deaf and did not show up until he was 17, left school early and suffered from social isolation.

He noted that he was facing court today for the most serious charge in New Zealand and there was no family support.

Judge Whata allowed Ransfield to sit on the court’s witness stand during sentencing to make sure he could hear the judge.

Judge Whata said a cultural report showed Ransfield was in a serious car accident in 2003 in which his partner and 9-year-old daughter were killed. He was injured in the accident and those injuries added to his disabilities.

In passing his sentence, he said it would be grossly unfair to impose a minimum period of non-parole of 17 years considering his personal circumstances, age and disability.

Instead, he imposed a 14-year parole period.

At the end of the sentence, Haukamau’s son performed an emotional haka before Judge Whata.