Police on guard for tagging verdict
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Police on guard for tagging verdict
Saturday, 13 December 2008
The grandfather of a South Auckland teenager fatally stabbed after tagging a garage door wiped tears from his eyes as he sat next to the dead boy's grave and said his killer had been found guilty of manslaughter.
It was not the message he had wanted to deliver to the grave of 15-year-old Pihema Cameron, who died from a single stab wound to the chest. .
Emery's lawyer, Chris Comeskey, told the court Pihema had lunged toward Emery intending to attack him, and had pushed into the knife.
The Crown alleged Emery stabbed Pihema in angry retaliation.
"We're devastated, we're not happy," said Pihema's great-aunt, Lovie Hohepa.
Following the verdict in the High Court at Auckland yesterday, Pihema's grandfather, Brian Cameron, said the family had been looking for a murder conviction.
"His mother [Leanne] is very shocked, so is Pihema's father [Clifford]."
Despite their disappointment, the family managed to "keep everyone together" for the duration of the week-long trial and had not erupted over the verdict as police had anticipated.
"But we just have to accept it.
They filed into the courtroom, took their seats and waited in tense silence.
Having kept vigil outside the courtroom since the jury retired almost 24 hours earlier, the family were surprised when told the jury was about to come back with a verdict.
Justice Hugh Williams urged everyone to restrain themselves when the verdict was announced.
But the jury was kept in an adjoining room for almost 30 minutes while a van load of uniformed police could be brought to the courthouse and be placed around the courtroom and near the jury box.
"Some people will be pleased, even elated with the verdict, some will be disconsolate.
"Some people will be pleased, even elated with the verdict, some will be disconsolate.
But Mrs Cameron gasped when she heard "not guilty" to murder and sobbed when she heard "guilty" to manslaughter."
Emery took a deep breath as he walked, under guard, to the courtroom but showed no emotion when the jury foreman read out the verdict.
Once the sobs subsided, she and the others donned green "RIP" T-shirts and filed out of the courtroom.
Leaving the courtroom, she walked with family to a private area, the sound of her cries still audible. They declined to comment on the verdict.
Emery's wife, sisters and other family members remained inside the courthouse till all Pihema's supporters had dispersed.
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Emery will return to court next Wednesday for a bail hearing before being sentenced on January 13