Teen with gang tattoos on trial for murder of Napier student Kaea Karauria
A 15-year-old with gang markings is being tried for murdering 15-year-old Kaea Karauria in Napier after a violent attack captured on video.
In a Palmerston North High Court hearing, a 15-year-old youth bearing Mongrel Mob tattoos faces a murder charge for the death of fellow 15-year-old Kaea Karauria, a Napier Boys’ High School student. Prosecutors allege the fatal stabbing occurred after a group of five assaulted Karauri on Dinwiddie Avenue, motivated by a trivial party incident and a mistaken belief he was linked to a rival gang. The teen recorded a short video of his bloodied hand and the knife used.
Defence counsel Tim Braithwaite contends the teen’s IQ of 70 and prenatal alcohol exposure mean he lacked intent, urging a manslaughter finding. Crown prosecutor Steve Manning highlighted the brutality, including repeated attacks and taunts. Two other participants have already pleaded guilty to manslaughter, while two more face injuring-with-intent charges; the trial is slated for three weeks.
Why it matters
The case highlights gang-related youth violence and how courts handle offenders with severe cognitive impairments.
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