In the quiet town of Hāwera, South Taranaki, an incident that sent shockwaves through the community unfolded within the walls of a bustling family restaurant, McDonald’s. Tuma Hori, a 29-year-old member of the Black Power gang, was among the culprits who violently assaulted a “partially disabled” man solely due to the color of his jersey which, to the gang members, signified affiliation with their rival gang, the Mongrel Mob.
The unsuspecting victim, a 40-year-old local who suffers from mental impairments, was simply ordering his meal when suddenly an unprovoked onslaught began. Hori, masked and armed with what was thought to be a hammer or a tyre iron, led the charge, landing the first blow. A torrent of kicks and punches then rained down on the man from up to thirteen gang members, even culminating in a stabbing to his torso.
From the eight assailants tied to the incident, seven have been sentenced, with the level of their involvement determining whether they received prison sentences or home detention. Hori was the last to face the scales of justice in the New Plymouth District Court.
A twist in the tale is that Hori was reportedly angered by the assault on an innocent man. He initially believed that he was attacking a member of the rival Mongrel Mob, as conveyed to him by a fellow gang member. Finding out that the victim was not associated with any gangs created a spike of remorse in him, sparking a sense of regret over his “heat of the moment” actions.
In an attempt to extend an olive branch, Hori wished to meet his victim through the restorative justice process, an offer which was declined. A pre-sentence report painted him as a high-risk offender, but also acknowledged his internal conflict about his gang involvement, particularly after fatherhood gave him a fresh perspective on life.
However, Judge Tony Greig was sceptical about Hori’s remorse, questioning whether it would have existed if the victim was indeed a Mongrel Mob member. His honor also identified the cultural and familial underpinnings of Hori’s situation, mentioning that his father is also a Black Power member.
Despite his background, the dual challenges of drug and alcohol misuse, and his prior crimes, the Judge threw down a lifeline. Hori received a sentence of four years for his crimes, which included wounding with intent to injure, participating in an organised criminal group, and an unrelated firearms charge.
Judge Greig urged Hori to build a life with his family upon release, adding a parting shot, “otherwise you shouldn’t be a father to any children.”
Hori’s comrades, Hohepa Rio, Timothy William Dixon, and Gabriel James Hansen have challenged their jail terms for their roles in the incident. The final chapter of this harrowing saga is drawing to a close with Justice Helen McQueen yet to release her decision.
