Sonny Waiti
A Rotorua man who dragged his girlfriend nearly 2km behind a car manipulated her into changing her statement, a court has heard.
Sonny Te Aramoana Waiti, 26, was sentenced in the Rotorua District Court yesterday to six years and five months' prison for kidnapping 37-year-old Rotorua mother Ana Eriepa on May 25. Judge James Weir ordered Waiti serve a minimum period of four years.
Waiti, a patched member of the Mongrel Mob, locked Ms Eriepa in a car boot after accusing her of cheating on him. He then drove erratically along State Highway 1 between Tokoroa and Putaruru. Ms Eriepa tried to escape but her foot got caught and she was dragged at speeds of at least 90km/h for at least 1.6km. She suffered injuries to much of her body and her left leg was later amputated below the knee.
Ms Eriepa, in court supporting Waiti, handed the judge a statement saying she got into the boot of her own free will.
Judge Weir disregarded that, referring to a letter Waiti wrote Ms Eriepa in which he told her "you just have to tell the pigs you wanted to be in the boot [and] I never forced you".
The judge said the letter was a "clear attempt to manipulate" Ms Eriepa. The pair remain in a relationship, with Waiti telling a probation officer he intended to marry her on his release.
As Judge Weir delivered his sentence, Waiti interrupted, calling out "you are only seeing this from your high horse". Waiti was taken to the cells and sentencing adjourned for about 20 minutes.
Earlier, Rotorua Crown prosecutor Amanda Gordon said Waiti had shown little remorse. Ms Gordon said it would have been foreseeable that Ms Eriepa would try to escape and suffer injuries.
Defence lawyer Moana Dorset disagreed.
"He had no idea and it never occurred to him that she would jump out of the boot," she said. "The injuries suffered were not intended by him."
Waiti, who was released from prison three weeks before the kidnapping, told police he had been smoking cannabis and methamphetamine continuously.
He said he had put Ms Eriepa in the boot "to show her that he loved her".
"That explanation probably gives some insight into your twisted, bizarre thinking at the time," the judge said.
The judge said Waiti had 25 previous violence convictions and was considered a high risk of re-offending.
Outside court, Waiti's former guardian Marie Tai said Waiti was "a good boy" and his letter had nothing to do with Ms Eriepa changing her statement.