Manslaughter conviction for 'potential sports star'

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A Masterton woman who once had the sporting potential to go to the top has instead been jailed for the manslaughter of her partner's stepfather.

Diamond Orupe, 21, had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Koria Steven Matiaha on June 4.

Justice Forrie Miller, at the High Court in Wellington yesterday, jailed her for two years and four months.

Her lawyer, Louise Elder, said that under different circumstances and with a different upbringing Orupe could have been the next Valerie Vili, world champion shot-putter.

"She has a prodigious sporting talent," Ms Elder said. "[She] could have been the next Valerie Vili, or in the eye of rugby selectors ..."

Instead she said Orupe's environment conspired against her and she was not able to flourish.

Justice Miller agreed. He said she could have achieved the highest honours.

One of 10 children, her family life was one of alcohol and violence. She had a significant alcohol problem.

On June 4, she and others in the family had been drinking most of the day. They decided to go to a friend's to continue to party. Mr Matiaha restrained his partner, Hine Biddle, struggling with her, holding her by the hair and pulling her to the ground.

Her daughter Te Whairangi Biddle, Orupe's partner, tried to intervene and Mr Matiaha swung a punch at her.

Justice Miller said Orupe had not reacted till the attack on her partner. She then hit Mr Matiaha.

They fought, ending up outside on the lawn where she hit Mr Matiaha so hard he fell unconscious to the ground.

The judge said Orupe was an unusually strong woman and Mr Matiaha a small man.

He said it could have been seen as defence of another till Orupe then straddled Mr Matiaha and continued punching him in the head as he lay defenceless on the ground.

He later died in hospital from a brain haemorrhage.

The judge said he accepted that she was genuinely remorseful and did not have a substantial propensity for violence although she was capable of it.

"There was a substantial degree of provocation, he swung at your partner. Someone needed to restrain him but you didn't have to punch him," the judge told her.

Justice Miller said Orupe had told police she had done it because Mr Matiaha had "killed our buzz", and she had been referred to as a trained boxer. He accepted she had not had boxing training since she had been at intermediate school.

- © Fairfax NZ News