R v Wereta

Turanga Wereta was convicted by a judge alone in the Palmerston North District Court of a series of offences against two victims, Ms H and Ms K. Wereta appeared before Thomas J in the High Court at Palmerston North for sentence. The court was required to determine whether a sentence of preventive detention was appropriate, and if not, the appropriate finite sentence having regard to the nature and circumstances of the offending and Wereta’s personal circumstances. The court concluded that a finite sentence was appropriate and sentenced Wereta to a total of 13 years’ imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of six years and six months. The court found that while the offending was of a serious nature, Wereta’s youth and willingness to engage in rehabilitation were mitigating factors. The court also found that the risk of reoffending could be managed through intensive rehabilitation and, if necessary, an extended supervision order. The court considered the starting point for the offending against Ms K to be 11 years’ imprisonment, and the offending against Ms H to attract a starting point of five years’ imprisonment. The court imposed an uplift of three years for totality, resulting in a combined starting point of 14 years’ imprisonment. The court applied discounts for guilty pleas and denied a discount for remorse, resulting in a final sentence of 13 years’ imprisonment.