Rereamanu Ronaki-Wihapi

Rereamanu Ronaki-Wihapi is a 20-year-old who gained notoriety for his involvement in the fatal incident where he ran down Taku Manu Paul in Te Puke. The case drew significant attention due to the violent nature of the act, which occurred after a confrontation related to a theft allegation involving Ronaki-Wihapi's mother. Following his trial, he was convicted of murder for the second impact that resulted in Paul's death, while a manslaughter conviction for the first hit was quashed by the Court of Appeal due to a legal error. Ronaki-Wihapi's background includes a history of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, which played a role in his defense during the trial.