4 Jul 2013

Harawira relatives found guilty over attack

8:12 pm on 4 July 2013

Two men have been found guilty of attacking a man and stealing his iPod, with a third man also convicted of assault in relation to the attack.

Tohora Harawira and Enesi Taito were found guilty of aggravated robbery in the Auckland District Court on Thursday after punching Joseph Harper at a bus stop in Avondale.

Mr Harper's eye socket and cheekbone was broken and nerves in his face damaged.

A third man, Wikatana Popata, was found not guilty of robbing Mr Harper, but guilty of hitting two schoolboys who witnessed the attack.

The men have been remanded for sentencing.

The verdict means Radio New Zealand can now reveal that Enesi Taito is also guilty of assaulting a 12-year-old boy in a separate attack in which his relative and co-offender, Mau Harawira, was jailed for three years on 1 July.

All four men are nephews of Mana Party MP Hone Harawira.