Woman boxer killed man over party

PARTY PLANS UPSET: Diamond Orupe, left, and Te Whairangi Biddle on their way to Masterton District Court yesterday. Both women have pleaded guilty to their part in the attack on a man who wanted to put a stop to their partying.

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A woman boxer has said she beat a man to death because "he killed the buzz of our party".

Masterton woman Diamond Orupe's victim, Koria Steven Matiaha, 25, was left slumped and unconscious on his front lawn soon after the beating on June 4.

He died of severe brain injuries in Wellington Hospital three days later.

In Masterton District Court yesterday, Orupe, 21, a trained boxer, admitted manslaughter.

She stood in the dock next to her partner, Te Whairangi Biddle, 20 – who pleaded guilty to a charge of assault – as the court was told the young women were angry that Matiaha had upset their party plans.

The attack happened while a group of people, including Matiaha's parents, his partner, who is Biddle's mother, and about five others were drinking and partying at the Matiaha family home in Stuart Cres, Masterton.

Police said Matiaha and his partner Hine, who had been together for several years, had a tempestuous relationship dogged by domestic violence, which was often fuelled by alcohol.

On the day of the attack, the group smoked cannabis and drank from about 10am, sometimes leaving the house to buy more alcohol.

About 5.20pm, Orupe and Biddle wanted to go to another house to carry on partying and, while waiting outside, heard Matiaha and Biddle's mother arguing, the court was told. Hine wanted to keep the party atmosphere going but Matiaha wanted it to stop and to stay at home.

Matiaha and Hine were wrestling on the ground – Matiaha was gripping her hair and refusing to let her go.

Biddle kicked Matiaha three times until he got up off the floor, and Orupe then punched him in the face.

Orupe and Matiaha struggled with each other, swinging punches as they moved out of the house.

Orupe again punched Matiaha in the face so hard that he slumped to the ground and lost consciousness.

She straddled him and punched him at least three times as he lay on the ground. Biddle then kicked him in the body and the head before she left the house to keep drinking in town.

When asked by police why she attacked Matiaha, Orupe said "because he killed our buzz".

Biddle gave police no reason for her part in the attack.

Orupe has been bailed to appear in the High Court at Wellington on December 3 for sentencing, and Biddle is on bail to be sentenced in Masterton District Court on December 10.