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'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.