Man jailed for brazen 'execution' of gang boss at Auckland church

A man has been sentenced to life in prison for carrying out a "targeted" gang-linked hit at an Auckland church nearly two years ago.

Daniel Eliu was President of the Notorious Chapter of the Mongrel Mob before he was shot outside the Puhinui Seventh Day Adventist Church on Saturday, December 17 in 2022. He was at an event held to help rehabilitate ex-prisoners into the community.

Eliu was shot in the back of each leg before four more shots were fired into his back.

Head Hunters member Thomas Tahitahi, 42, pleaded guilty to the murder in April this year. He was on parole at the time of the killing and had an "extensive" criminal history. He was driven to and from the scene in a Mercedes-Benz by a still-unknown second person.

Justice Simon Moore presided over Tahitahi's sentencing this morning at the High Court in Auckland.

Tahitahi was in the dock in a white shirt with a security guard on either side, a near-full public gallery behind him. A third security guard sat further forward in the court and a fourth stood at the door, with a fifth joining him at times.

The convicted murderer watched through the glass as Justice Moore ruled on a sentence of life imprisonment with a minimum of 17 years behind bars before the killer would be eligible for parole. Tahitahi stood for the formal proclamation of the sentence.

Members of both families watched.

"The epitome of premeditation." That's how Crown lawyer Anna Devathasan described the murder.

"There are really no other words for it but 'an execution'."

She also said the killing was callous and "brazen", arguing for a 17-year minimum non-parole period.

The Crown submitted that Tahitahi's guilty plea was "very late" and came amid an "overwhelming" case against him.

On the other hand, Devathasan acknowledged Tahitahi's tough upbringing in state care.

Defence lawyer Kim Holden said Tahitahi hadn't been a member of the Head Hunters since 2016, and he had no intention of returning to the gang. However, the summary of facts for the case said: "He is a patched member of the Head Hunters."

Holden also argued that Tahitahi "didn't set out to kill [Eliu]" but was rather "reckless" and "has expressed his remorse".

She emphasised Tahitahi's background, pointing to a "pattern" and a "pathway" from his abuse in state care to prison.

Holden said his preparation for the killing was "limited".

Justice Moore ultimately decided that a minimum non-parole period of 17 years was a fair outcome.

He rubbished part of a letter of remorse from Tahitahi, which said he hadn't meant to kill Eliu: "That is nonsense."

A submission from Tahitahi alleged Eliu had offended against him and a family member in the past, but these claims were not sufficiently proven, Justice Moore said. The pair had spent time at the same prison in the past.

Three victim impact statements were read to the court today. First, one of Eliu's sons read a statement from his brother.

He began by acknowledging God first; "those who have passed on" second; and those in attendance third.

"It almost seems like yesterday that I got the news that my dad had been shot dead and was lying in his own blood.

"My question to you, brother, is why?" the statement asked — also acknowledging Eliu was "not perfect".

The statement called for Tahitahi to reflect during his time in prison.

"Lastly, I have no ill feelings towards you... Only God can judge how you crossed paths with my father."

A second statement, from Eliu's sister, was read by his cousin. She remembered getting the call that Eliu had been killed.

"In my state of shock, I remember driving through three red lights in my haste to get there... I saw the body being brought out."

Another statement said Eliu was "brutally and senselessly" taken from the family. The author described the grief as "tortuous".

"I struggle mentally, spiritually and physically because of this grief."

The statements spoke fondly of Eliu as a "kind" and "generous" man.

An agreed summary of facts noted about 200 people, including children, were at the church when the killing occurred.

It was the last service for the year and a Christmas lunch was planned. Eliu was due to graduate from a Grace Foundation programme that day, the summary said.

After being dropped off nearby, Tahitahi walked down the driveway to the church, wearing a blue hoodie and sunglasses. He carried a semi-automatic .22 gun, hidden under a jacket over his shoulder.

"The defendant milled around the car park for a few minutes before strolling around to the front lawn where a number of people had gathered for the barbecue. He walked right up to the deceased and stood less than a metre behind him.

"With the gun still partially concealed in the black jacket, and in the midst of several bystanders, he shot the deceased six times in quick succession," the court document said. Tahitahi shot Eliu in the back of each leg and then four times in the back.

"The fatal shot was through the aorta (which alone would have killed the deceased)," the court document said.

Tahitahi was identified with the help of CCTV footage, a "distinctive" scar on his shin proving crucial.

Today, Moore said: "You did this at a time when a community should've been able to come together and feel safe.

"As the Crown rightly says, this was a professional execution-style killing."

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