'Your family could be next', warns coward punch victim's brother
Photo:
Robin Martin / RNZ
A Taranaki father has shared his sense of loss and anger following the death of his son in a one-punch assault.
About 200 people
gathered at the Tukapa Rugby Club in New Plymouth on Friday
to remember Daniel Nganeko and join a march calling for tougher penalties for coward-punch-style offences.
Daniel Nganeko died on 29 July after being struck by Daytona Thompson, 22, in what police described as an unprovoked attack at the Tukapa senior prizegiving three days earlier.
Te Uraura Nganeko was still coming to terms with his son's death.
"It's a tragedy, just a waste of a beautiful life and a beautiful soul. It's just this huge sense of loss and anger. It should never have happened, and that's why we are here on Friday."
He said the 37-year-old - a former visual journalist who planned to retrain as a teacher - deserved better.
"Daniel was harmless. In the context of this kaupapa Daniel was harmless, he wouldn't hurt a fly. He accepted people as they are and everyone loved him."
The Nganeko family organised the march from the Tukapa clubrooms to the High Court, where Thompson was due to plead to a manslaughter charge.
Their message was clear.
"We are marching because coward punches kill and our laws don't treat them seriously enough. We are here for justice for Daniel and other victims and to change the justice system to stop this happening again. One punch took Daniel's life and we want laws that reflect the reality."
Sarah Coward was one of many at the clubrooms wearing a white T-shirt bearing Daniel's image and the slogan "March for Daniel, March for Change".
She was feeling his loss keenly.
"He was loving, passionate, happy. I mean look at all these people here, you know, like he was great. He was just the best. Talked to everyone, always had time for people and wouldn't hurt anybody."
A mate of Daniel's twin brother Cameron - Steve Dent - reinforced the message for tougher penalties.
"[The offender] was just out to get another notch on the belt. I think that's the culture we need to change. We need tougher sentencing so these guys know that if they engage in that sort of behaviour that they will go away for life."
Cameron Nganeko, meanwhile, rallied the marchers from a lectern before they headed to the courthouse.
"How long must we wait for the government to act? If we remain silent, if we do nothing your family could be next. Let's come together as one, stand side-by-side and stand up, speak out and defend those who no longer can [defend themselves]. Enough is enough, it's time for change and it starts now."
Thompson
pleaded guilty to the manslaughter
charge and will be sentenced in October.
Te Uraura Nganeko predicted the plea - but it was little relief.
"I really haven't got a message for him. He killed my son."
He said Thompson had a good lawyer.
"There is a system in play here, and that's one of the issues I have with the discounts offenders get for pleading guilty. I don't believe they should get any discounts for violent offences."
The government
aimed to introduce legislation recognising one-punch attacks as a specific offence
- with lengthy jail terms - before the end of the year, and have it passed into law before the next general election.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Three arrested after drivers flee in Manawatū, police say
(File photo) Photo: 123rf A group of dangerous drivers have been arrested after an on-road confrontation with police in Palmerston North overnight, police say. Officers reported seeing a vehicle being driven as part of a convoy on Roberts Line without license plates, about 11.40pm on Friday. The driver failed to stop for police and fled the scene in the vehicle, while the driver of another vehicle tried to block police from following, they said. Both vehicles were spiked nearby in the city, on Tremaine Avenue, a short time later. Officers arrested the two occupants of the vehicle that had no registration plates, after it came to a stop, but said the second vehicle continued to flee. "... due to the manner of driving, a pursuit was not authorised," police said. However the second vehicle was found at about 3am, and the driver arrested. A police spokesperson asked for people to report anti-social driving behaviour with as much information as safely possible. "We need your help preventing and responding to the activity," they said. "And in cases where we cannot immediately respond, [this] allows us to follow up with drivers and take later enforcement action." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
Funeral to be held for Anahera, baby discovered in recycling
Detective Inspector Scott Beard (file photo) Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi A police officer who's worked for years to track the family of a baby found dead at a South Auckland recycling plant says the Onehunga community will honour her at a funeral service on Saturday. The newborn's body was discovered four years ago to the day, at Onehunga's Visy Recycling plant, on 16 August 2021, after a worker [ spotted her on a conveyor belt. She was given the name of Anahera (Angel) by the community. Despite significant publicity and police investigations, neither the baby, nor her parents or any family members were identified. Detective Inspector Scott Beard told Saturday Morning police had carried out extensive inquiries, including looking at more than 300 DNA profiles. "Obviously we look at the DNA profile, and we look at familial DNA to try and identify family - who could be the mother or father - and to date we've had nearly 300 profiles and we haven't been able to identify the parent." Investigators found Anahera must have arrived at the plant on the day she was discovered . CCTV footage was then used to try to narrow down the area she had arrived from, but Beard said 104 recycling trucks arrived that day. He said he could not speculate on why the baby was abandoned. The funeral was organised by the community, and was to take place at 10am Saturday in Onehunga, followed by a burial in Māngere. "Whatever the circumstances, what we have here ... we have a little baby who had just been discarded in the recycling, and today is about honouring this little baby," Beard said. "The local Onehunga community, what they've done - the wrap-around support and the general service that we're doing today - I think just shows the care and the love that is within the community." From time to time tips were submitted to the police about the case, which were investigated, but they had not yet led to the family, he said. In July, a coroner's report said medical examiners had not been able to tell if baby Anahera was born alive or was a stillbirth, and the cause of her death could not be determined. Police told the coroner they intend for Anahera's case to remain open until a parent was identified and spoken to. Beard has also previously said he hopes that someone connected to the child will one day come forward. Anyone with information can contact police by phoning 105, and quoting file number 210816/2825, or they can report to Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111. Finding help: Coroner Alison Mills, who examined Anahera's case, urged any woman who needs support with an unplanned pregnancy in the future to reach out to organisations who provide services, including: A kahu huruhuru feather cloak was donated for Anahera's burial. Photo: Supplied/police Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
5 hours ago
- RNZ News
Funeral to be held for baby Anahera, discovered in recycling
Detective Inspector Scott Beard (file photo) Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi A police officer who's worked for years to track the family of a baby found dead at a South Auckland recycling plant says the Onehunga community will honour her at a service on Saturday. The newborn, who was found at Onehunga's Visy Recycling plant in August 2021 , was given the name of Anahera by the community. Despite significant publicity and police investigations, neither the baby, nor her parents or any family members were identified. Detective Inspector Scott Beard told Saturday Morning police had carried out extensive inquiries, including looking at more than 300 DNA profiles. More than 100 recycling trucks arrived at the plant the day the baby was discovered. He said he could not speculate on why the baby was abandoned. The funeral will take place at 10am Saturday in Onehunga, followed by a burial in Māngere. "Whatever the circumstances, what we have here ... we have a little baby who had just been discarded in the recycling, and today is about honouring this little baby," Beard said. "The local Onehunga community, what they've done - the wrap-around support and the general service that we're doing today - I think just shows the care and the love that is within the community." More to come ... Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
