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R v Ronaki

R v Ronaki

Case [2023] NZHC 2576 14 September 2023

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF NEW ZEALAND HAMILTON REGISTRY

I TE KŌTI MATUA O AOTEAROA KIRIKIRIROA ROHE

CRI-2023-419-000026

[2023] NZHC 2576

THE KING

v

HONE RONAKI

Hearing: 14 September 2023

Appearances:

J Hamilton for the Crown A Schulze for Mr Ronaki

Sentencing:

14 September 2023

SENTENCING NOTES OF GORDON J

Solicitors: Hamilton Legal, Hamilton Counsel: A Schulze, Barrister, Rotorua

R v RONAKI [2023] NZHC 2576 [14 September 2023]

[1] Mr Ronaki, you were one of 11 defendants who went to trial on charges arising out of rioting at Waikeria Prison over the New Year 2020/2021 period. Six of your co- defendants pleaded guilty to amalgamated charges prior to trial.

[2] Four weeks into the trial you and six other defendants pleaded guilty to three representative charges: arson (with a danger to life),1 riotous damage,2 and assault with a weapon.3 The three charges are an amalgamation of charges in the Crown Charge Notice dated 28 June 2022.

Factual background

[3] At the time you pleaded guilty you accepted the contents of a Summary of Facts dated 13 March 2023. Although you are familiar with the facts it is necessary for me to summarise them in my decision. I repeat the summary from my sentencing decision of Beau-James Paul,4 one of your co-offenders who, like you, pleaded guilty to the same three charges during the trial.

[4] You were in custody in the High Security Facility at Waikeria Prison at the time of the riot.

[5] On the morning of 29 December 2020 an incident occurred in one of the exercise yards, yard 116, when a prisoner refused to return a disposable razor (or razors) to a Corrections officer. Several other prisoners offered that prisoner their support. You were not one of those prisoners. You were not, in fact, in yard 116 at the time. When a Corrections officer told those in the yard that they would all be returned to their cells early if the razors were not surrendered, a number of prisoners in the yard told the Corrections officer they were not going anywhere and were ready for a fight. Eventually one razor was handed in, the situation was defused and tensions eased. The prisoners in yard 116 were then permitted to remain in the yard for the usual period.

1      Crimes Act 1961, ss 267(1)(a) and 66. Maximum penalty: 14 years’ imprisonment.
2      Section 90. Maximum penalty: 7 years’ imprisonment.
3      Sections 202C(1)(a) and 66. Maximum penalty: 5 years’ imprisonment.
4      R v Paul [2023] NZHC 1985.

[6] By around 1.00 pm a significantly more hostile atmosphere had developed in yard 116. Nine of the prisoners (the group) set in train the events that led to the riot. They damaged property in the yard. They lit fires on top of the wooden seats and structures inside the yard. Efforts made by Corrections officers and firefighters to extinguish the fires were thwarted by members of the group of nine shielding the fires with their bodies and various items. They…

Grounds of appeal

[14] The appellant contends that the primary judge erred in finding that the respondent had discharged the onus of establishing the matters required under the relevant provision.

[15] It was submitted that his Honour failed to give adequate weight to the evidence of the second witness, and that the findings of fact were not reasonably open on the material before the Court.

[16] The respondent, for its part, submits that no error is disclosed, and that the conclusions reached were well within the range of outcomes available to the primary judge.

Consideration

[17] It is convenient to deal first with the question of construction, as the resolution of that issue informs the remaining grounds advanced by the appellant.

[18] For the reasons that follow, we are of the view that the appeal should be allowed in part and the matter remitted for further determination.

Continue reading R v Ronaki

Details

AGLC: R v Ronaki [2023] NZHC 2576
Case: [2023] NZHC 2576
Decision Date: 14 September 2023

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the High Court of New Zealand, HONE RONAKI was sentenced for his involvement in a riot at Waikeria Prison in the New Year of 2020/2021. Ronaki pleaded guilty to charges of arson with a danger to life, riotous damage, and assault with a weapon. The court had to decide on the appropriate starting point for sentencing, taking into account aggravating and mitigating features of the offending, and the defendant's personal background. The Crown argued for a starting point of nine years and six months' imprisonment, while the defence submitted for a lesser starting point based on Ronaki's role in the offending. The court decided on a starting point of nine years and six months' imprisonment, taking into account the nature of the offending and the need for parity among co-offenders. The court also considered personal mitigating factors, such as Ronaki's guilty plea and his personal circumstances, which resulted in a reduction of 20% from the starting point. The final sentence imposed was five years and one month's imprisonment for the charge of arson, and five years' imprisonment for the other two charges, to be served concurrently. The court also considered the principle of totality, taking into account the 16-year sentence Ronaki was already serving for other charges, and decided on a reduction of two years and six months to avoid a disproportionate total sentence.

Orders