Zion Purukamu

Sixteen-year-old Zion Purukamu, of Hoon Hay, died in Christchurch Hospital after he was attacked at his girlfriend’s 17th birthday party on Medbury Tce in Fendalton on 13 August 2021. The party, held at an Airbnb rental property, was attended by more than 80 youths, some of which were not invited. Two teenagers, aged 14 and 17, also suffered serious stab wounds. A 16-year-old boy was charged with murder and two counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

When Te HueHue admitted the charge last year the police summary of facts was read, outlining how the fatal stabbing played out. On August 13 last year, a small group of friends gathered at an Airbnb house on Medbury Terrace in the upmarket suburb of Fendalton to host a 17th birthday party. The birthday girl sent invites out on Instagram and people began arriving through the evening. By 10pm, around 80 people were inside and outside the house. The three victims – Zion and two friends, one aged just 14 and the other 17 – were with a group of associates who called themselves the 'Rowley Boys' - as a number of them are from Rowley Avenue in Hoon Hay. Te HueHue arrived with two associates - an 18-year-old and a 20-year-old – at about 10pm. They did not know the Rowley Boys. They chased him down the street and into a neighbouring property where they continued to fight. One of them demanded Te HueHue's Louis Vuitton bag that he was wearing and took it. The fight continued in the driveway of the party house. At some stage, Te HueHue removed a knife from his clothing and stabbed Zion in the abdomen and back. The stab wound to his abdomen pierced Zion's aorta which proved to be fatal. He staggered across the road and fell to the ground. At some point in the night, Zion and a friend confronted Te HueHue about kissing a girl they considered too drunk and told him to leave. He refused and there was a fight on the deck of the house between Zion and a number of the Rowley Boys. The 14-year-old rushed Zion and was stabbed in the chest, piercing a lung. Te HueHue ran towards Clyde Rd. As he passed a 17-year-old who was not involved in the fight, he stabbed him in the chest, causing a serious laceration to his spleen. Partygoers phoned emergency services and administered first aid to the three victims. Zion was carried inside where they tried CPR before paramedics took over and raced him to hospital where he was pronounced dead soon afterwards. Afterwards, Te HueHue "commented to various people that the victims deserved it", the summary says, but adds, "although it is accepted that he could not have known at that stage that Zion would die". Te HueHue later admitted to police that he stabbed all three but stated it was in self-defence. Source: New Zealand Herald (14 March 2023).

Sources

1. Otago Daily Times (2021, August 16). 'Extremely difficult time': Stabbed teen's family plan funeral, police update inquiry.
2. Sherwood, Sam (2021, September 3). Teen accused of killing fellow teen at party pleads not guilty (Stuff).
3. New Zealand Herald (14 March 2023).