Latest news with #cowardpunch
RNZ News
5 days ago
- RNZ News
'Your family could be next', warns coward punch victim's brother
Coward punch marchers outside the High Court at New Plymouth. 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.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Victim's dad among those calling for coward punch law to be fast tracked
Te Uraura Nganeko speaks at the rally at the Tukapa Rugby Club where his son was fatally assaulted. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin About 200 people have gathered at a march calling for the introduction of new coward punch law to be fast tracked. Te Uraura Nganeko, who is the father of Danile Nganeko, spoke to the crowd who gathered at the Tukapa Rugby Club where his son was fatally assaulted. He told them Daniel's death in such circumstances should be the last. Some of those taking part were wearing white T-shirts bearing Daniel's image. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin After the rally they began marching to the New Plymouth courthouse. There Daytona Thomas is expected to plead to charges of manslaughter for causing Daniel's Nganeko's death. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Another of those taking in the march is Ben Leng who spent a week in a coma after being blindsided by "sort of a coward's punch" by a New Plymouth bouncer last December. Leng said emergency surgery in Wellington saved his life. "Flip of the coin really, it could've gone either way, and I'm definitely lucky. And it's a few things that are keeping me positive, and that's one of them, that I'm still here." The bouncer, Taylor Watkins, was sentenced to 12 months' home detention and ordered to pay 15-thousand dollars in reparations. Leng is among those calling for tougher penalties for one-punch attacks. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin In June, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said the government would legislate to ensure coward punches were treated as a specific offence and sentences reflected the gravity of the crime. "We know how dangerous they are. People can be killed or suffer lifelong brain injuries, yet perpetrators often receive lenient and insufficient sentences," he said. The new legislation would include: The legislation fulfils part of National's coalition agreement with New Zealand First. Goldsmith aimed to introduce the Bill before the end of the year, and have it passed into law before the next general election.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- RNZ News
Coward punch victims and families call for faster law changes
Taranaki man Ben Leng was given hours to live after a coward punch attack in New Plymouth. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Ben Leng considers himself lucky to be alive. Spread on his kitchen table in rural Taranaki are photos illustrating the impact of what he describes as "the worst day in his life". They are photos so harrowing he does not want to share them, but just get on with his life. In one, he is lying in a hospital bed in an induced coma after being blindsided by "sort of a coward's punch" thrown by New Plymouth bouncer Taylor Watkins in December last year. A coward punch, also known as a king hit, is a strike to the head or neck, often delivered from behind, usually unprovoked and without warning. Another photo shows the gaping wound where surgeons had earlier removed part of his skull to reduce swelling. The third image is a scan showing the titanium plates now keeping his skull together. The 29-year-old builder said following the assault his partner and his parents were told he only had hours to live if he did not get emergency surgery. "Flip of the coin really, it could've gone either way, and I'm definitely lucky. And it's a few things that are keeping me positive, and that's one of them, that I'm still here." Leng said the experience was toughest on those close to him. "My partner was seven months pregnant with our first child. My parents ... don't talk to Mum about it because she still gets moved by it. "It was the hardest thing they've had to go through in terms of seeing their son almost be a dad and then almost get taken away from them. That's probably the hardest thing that they could ever see." Leng, who is now focused on being the best dad and partner he could be, is joining calls for the faster introduction of new laws , including harsher penalties for coward punches. He will take part in a march in New Plymouth on Friday, organised by the family of Daniel Nganeko. The 37-year-old died after being punched outside the Tukapa Rugby clubrooms , in what police described as an unprovoked attack. His head struck the footpath. Daytona Thompson, 22, has been charged with manslaughter and was due to appear in court on the same day . Daniel Nganeko. Photo: Supplied Leng said on the night he was assaulted, 28 December, 2024, he and his brother Max and some rugby mates from England had been out drinking in New Plymouth. He admits he had been misbehaving and tried to enter a bar with a couple of pre-mixed drinks in his pocket and had been refused entry, then later got into a fight with security after trying to re-enter the bar to retrieve his mates after ditching his drinks. The police summary of facts said after the initial fight, Watkins and another bouncer followed the Leng brothers as they walked away from the bar and continued to argue with them. "Without warning the defendant swung a punch with a closed left fist hitting Leng in the jaw. Due to the nature of the punch Leng was unable to defend himself. "The punch caused Leng to immediately lose consciousness and drop to the ground. When he dropped to the ground, Leng's head impacted with the concrete paved ground with an audible sound." Watkins admitted a charge of injuring in circumstances that if death had occurred he would have been charged with manslaughter. Last week, he was sentenced to 12 months' home detention and ordered to pay $15,000 in reparations to Leng. After the attack, Leng was in a coma for seven days, followed by four days in ICU and two and a half weeks in a brain rehab centre. "I got taken straight to Taranaki Base Hospital, and then when they saw the severity of the brain injury ... I literally had 15 to 18 hours, which would have been death, unless I got surgery. So at 2am roughly, I got transferred via helicopter straight to Wellington, which put me straight into surgery." He remembers the surreal experience of waking from the coma. "No emotion, nothing. I just remember opening my eyes, seeing my parents at my feet with about four nurses, five nurses, and just thinking I was in a movie. "And not having any emotion because of the head injury, just numb, zero, nothing. Literally not panicked, nothing. It was just like my eyes were open, but nothing was working in my brain." Ben Leng considers himself lucky to be alive. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin The once busy builder had not been able to work since the assault and was suspended from driving for six months. "In terms of like to get back to normal, it's still ongoing. So that could be a year, it could be two, it could be three. It's hard to know, really, it's just day by day, but the first two or three months were the biggest in terms of getting back to reality and figuring out what happened." Leng did not think Watkins' sentence reflected the nature of the offending, especially for someone supposed to be keeping people safe. "To be allowed to stay at home on 12 months home detention at the cost of taxpayers, I just don't think it suits the seriousness of his actions in terms of how close I came to death. "A coward's punch, a king hit, a sucker punch, whatever you want to call it, just shouldn't be accepted because more often than not, when someone can't defend themselves, the injuries are going to be a lot more severe." In June, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said the government would legislate to ensure coward punches were treated as a specific offence and sentences reflected the gravity of the crime. "We know how dangerous they are. People can be killed or suffer lifelong brain injuries, yet perpetrators often receive lenient and insufficient sentences," he said. The new legislation would include: The legislation fulfils part of National's coalition agreement with New Zealand First. The new criminal offences for coward punches were being introduced as part of a Crimes Act Amendment Bill which also included a specific offence for attacking a first responder, the new shoplifting infringement regime, strengthened trespass laws and strengthened human trafficking laws. Goldsmith aimed to introduce the Bill before the end of the year, and have it passed into law before the next general election. For Leng and the Nganeko family the law change could not come fast enough. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
04-08-2025
- RNZ News
'Coward punch' laws need to be fast-tracked, says family of New Plymouth victim
By Tara Shaskey, Open Justice reporter in Taranaki of New Plymouth videographer Daniel Nganeko died after a coward punch outside a rugby club. Photo: Supplied Whānau and friends of a man who died from an alleged coward punch are calling for the fast-tracking of a new law introducing tougher penalties for such crimes. Daniel Nganeko, 37, was allegedly punched by Daytona Thompson outside the Tukapa Rugby and Sports Club in New Plymouth on 26 July. Thompson pleaded guilty to assault two days later, but that was withdrawn after Nganeko died on Tuesday. An elevated charge of manslaughter has since been filed, to which Thompson has yet to plead. The maximum penalty for manslaughter is life imprisonment. In June, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith announced a new law that will introduce an assault offence for one-punch attacks which cause grievous bodily harm. The maximum penalty when the offender intended to cause injury or acted with a disregard for safety would be eight years' imprisonment. If an offender was found to have intended to cause grievous bodily harm, the maximum penalty would be 15 years. The new law would also see a culpable homicide offence for such attacks which resulted in death, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The new offences would be added to the Three Strikes Regime. A Givealittle page set up after Nganeko's death stated all funds raised would not only go to his whānau to help with funeral and memorial costs, but also towards advocacy and support to fast-track the introduction of the pending law. "We want justice for Daniel, and for every injury and life lost to this horrible violence. We will make sure his story is heard, not just as a tragedy, but as a call to action," the page, which has raised more than $25,000 in two days, stated. The page described Nganeko, a videographer and Tukapa Rugby supporter, as a cherished son, twin brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend who was known for his creativity, kindness and infectious smile. "We are committed to ensuring Daniel's death is not in vain," it said. Nganeko's twin brother Cameron Nganeko demanded change in a statement shared on the page. In questions to Goldsmith about whether the government would consider the calls to fast-track the new law, NZME was advised he was unable to comment on individual cases. However, his office provided information on the incoming Coward Punch offence, which would be introduced as part of a Crimes Act Amendment Bill. It said it would be introduced before the end of the year, with the aim of being passed into law before the next election. Normal practice would be that only offending that happens after the "take effect" day would be covered by the new law. There would not be a mandatory minimum period of imprisonment imposed for such attacks that resulted in death. Goldsmith said in his earlier announcement that a "coward punch" got its name for obvious reasons. "These attacks affect everyday Kiwis and are often committed by cowardly attackers, who strike when the victim is distracted. "We know how dangerous they are. People can be killed or suffer lifelong brain injuries, yet perpetrators often receive lenient and insufficient sentences." According to the summary of facts relating to the assault charge, Nganeko was hit once by Thompson "without any obvious provocation". He fell backwards and his head hit the edge of the footpath. Nganeko died after he was flown to Auckland City Hospital, where scans revealed he had suffered a fractured skull and extensive brain injuries with damage to his frontal and rear lobe. Thompson is expected to enter a plea to the manslaughter charge at a hearing in the High Court at New Plymouth on 15 August. A service to celebrate Nganeko's life will be held at Francis Douglas Memorial College, where he attended school, this weekend. On Saturday, a moment of silence was held before the Ranfurly Shield rugby match between Taranaki and Northland. - This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald .
Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Watch the shock moment footballer coward punches player before appearing to fall over
A South Australian football player has been banned from the sport for life after he was spotted hitting an opponent from behind during a local match. Ingle Farm Premiership's Brandon Rigney was handed a 14-match ban from the Adelaide Football League over the incident on the pitch on June 14. His team was facing off against Fitzroy in Round 8 of the Division Six competition when a fan filmed Mr Rigney suddenly strike an opposing player. The seemingly unprovoked hit from behind, an action often referred to as a 'coward punch', knocked the Fitzroy footballer to the ground, allegedly causing a concussion. It was ruled by the league as intentional conduct, high contact and severe impact, 7News reported. In the video, Mr Rigney could be seen falling over beside the Fitzroy player before rolling over with his face on the grass as other players rushed over. The penalty from the incident took Mr Rigney's total game bans to 25, which is significantly above the local league limit of 12 and the AFL 's nationwide limit of 16. As a result, the Bulldogs veteran was automatically deregistered and can no longer compete at any level in the country without a successful appeal. Adelaide Footy League's chief executive officer John Kernahan said on Friday the footage 'doesn't leave much to the imagination'. 'The Adelaide Footy League is all of disappointed, frustrated and angry. At the same time, we're only reaffirming standards and expectations of conduct. 'These types of incidents in 2025 are thankfully from a bygone era though our reaction is very 2025; we're not having it. 'Fitzroy had every right to represent their player's interests and Ingle Farm was cooperative and extremely embarrassed.' The incident was only raised when Fitzroy lodged a complaint and led to an investigation. Mr Kernahan insisted Mr Rigney's actions were not representative of the league which had been 'enjoying its best year for a decade'. Mr Rigney played 153 games and scored 197 goals in his 16-year career. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ingle Farm Football Club for comment. Mr Rigney could not be reached.
