27 Sep 2013

Harawira nephews sentenced for aggravated robbery

5:42 pm on 27 September 2013

Two nephews of Mana Party leader Hone Harawira have been jailed for attacking a man.

Tohora Harawira and Enesi Taito were found guilty of aggravated robbery in the Auckland District Court in April after punching Joseph Harper at an Avondale bus stop and making off with his iPod.

Judge Dawson sentenced Taito to five years in prison while Harawira was sentenced to 2 years and 8 months.

Mr Harper suffered a broken eye socket and cheekbone as well as nerve damage to his face in the attack.

A third man Wikatana Popata, who led a Ngati Kahu protest at a Far North reserve in 2010, was found guilty of two charges of aggravated assault on two school boys who witnessed the attack.

He was sentenced to six months home detention.

Taito was also sentenced for his part in a home invasion in which he and Mau Harawira chased a 12 year-old into his home and beat him in his bedroom.