Triston Jermaine Papuni

Killed by cousin [name suppression]. Triston was described as a fun-loving, intelligent boy with a bright future. His 12-year-old cousin had a history of bullying and "extraordinary aggression" and had reprimanded at three of his previous schools for picking on his classmates. After a week of bullying Triston, he threatened him with a gun after the pair argued about taking a knife out hunting on Tutamoe Station, about 30km west of Tolaga Bay. The cousin then picked up his father's semi-automatic rifle and said: "Bay I'll shoot youse," after Triston called him "an arsehole". He poked Triston multiple times with the rifle before grabbing two bullets and loading the gun, asking: "Are you going to get cheeky now I'm sticking bullets in it?" Triston was shot in the shoulder as he turned his back. The bullet travelled laterally across his body destroying his windpipe and he died almost immediately in a pool of blood on the floor. Cousin's 44-year-old father [name suppression] had "failed as a parent" by leaving a firearm and ammunition insecure around the children, by encouraging his son to lie to police, and by attempting to pervert the course of justice. Source: https://debbiemccauleyauthor.wordpress.com/biographies/new-zealand-....

A 12-year-old boy who shot and killed an 11-year-old cousin was a bully who had been reprimanded at three of his previous schools for picking on his classmates. The boy, now 14, was sentenced yesterday to 20 months in a juvenile detention centre after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Triston Jermaine Papuni, 11. The boy, who was initially charged with murder, was granted permanent name suppression when he appeared in the High Court at Gisborne alongside his 44-year-old father. His father was sentenced to two years in jail for attempting to cover up the shooting by telling his son to lie to police, at first making it look like an accident. Yesterday the officer in charge of the case, Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Scott, revealed that the boy – now New Zealand's second youngest killer – had a history of bullying. That behaviour, recorded by teachers at three different schools, eventually led to the death of Triston, who was described in victim impact statements as a fun-loving, intelligent boy with a bright future. The summary of facts revealed how the boy threatened Triston with a gun after the pair argued about taking a knife out hunting. The boy then picked up his father's gun and said: "Bay I'll shoot youse," after Triston called him "an arsehole". He poked Triston multiple times with the rifle before grabbing two bullets and loading the gun, asking: "Are you going to get cheeky now I'm sticking bullets in it?" Triston was shot in the shoulder as he turned his back. The bullet destroyed his windpipe and he died almost immediately, in a pool of blood on the floor. Triston's mother, Leeann Tuheke, said in October that the boy bullied her son in the week leading up to his death. She broke down as she read her victim impact statement in a packed courtroom yesterday, prompting the young accused to become upset. "There is a gap in our life. It's quieter, too quiet," she said. "You could almost always hear Triston – Triston's squeal of enthusiasm." Triston's older brother Beaudean said he felt anger towards the boy who took his brother's life. He missed his brother every day and said his family life was now very different. The two accused looked upset after the statements were read. The father held his son's hand throughout the sentencing, grasping it tighter when Justice Miller told them they would both be going to jail. He said the boy's prospects of rehabilitation would require "significant work" as he had shown extraordinary aggression in the past. That rehabilitation would depend greatly on his ability to eventually reintegrate into society, and formed the basis for the granting of permanent name suppression. Justice Miller said the boy's father had "failed as a parent", by leaving a firearm and ammunition insecure around the children and by encouraging his son to lie to police. Reading a statement on behalf of Triston's family outside the court, relative Jason Papuni said they would not be commenting on the sentences. However, he said the family were glad the truth was now out. "It has been a torment to us that those sentenced today have remained in the community since the death of Triston. It has seemed to many that their being in the community meant that there were no charges to be answered." He said the family missed Triston every day. "It is sometimes hard to mention his name. Many of our children have the look – it is a family look – of Triston. It is a great joy and sadness when we see it, for it reminds us of him." Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4433607/Boy-who-killed-cousin-had-h...