Tongan man Pelikani Taukei’aho has been acquitted of murder and manslaughter after fatally shooting a man during an armed robbery linked to a cocaine deal worth about $100,000 in Featherston, New Zealand.
The High Court in Wellington heard that Taukei’aho fired his revolver after Doreion Hard and his associates robbed him and another Auckland man, Tauave Sue, of cocaine in a supermarket carpark in March 2025.
Both defendants were cleared of homicide charges following a three-week trial but are awaiting sentencing in December after pleading guilty to cocaine possession, supply and offering to supply.
According to the NZ Herald’s Open Justice reporting, the pair had travelled from Auckland on 22 March 2025 carrying cocaine, cash, a 9mm revolver and 50 rounds of ammunition.
Prosecutors said each expected to earn $4,000 from the transaction, which could have helped establish a drug supply network in the Wellington region.
Drug deal turns deadly
The court heard that Hard, who was under the influence of methamphetamine, had no intention of paying for the cocaine.
He arrived at the Fresh Choice supermarket carpark with five associates in two vehicles.
Hard and another man confronted Taukei’aho and Sue at gunpoint before taking two backpacks containing cocaine from their car.
As the robbers attempted to escape in a red ute, Hard fired a shot, prompting Taukei’aho to discharge his revolver.
One of Taukei’aho’s bullets fatally wounded Hard, while two others struck a bakery sign across the road.
The exchange of gunfire lasted approximately three seconds.
Defence argues self-defence
Taukei’aho’s lawyer, Louise Sziranyi, argued that her client had acted to protect himself after being threatened with firearms during the robbery.
She said Taukei’aho was outside his vehicle when a shot was fired from the departing ute, leaving him only moments to react.
However, Crown prosecutor Tim Bain disputed the self-defence argument, maintaining that the robbers were already leaving and no longer posed an immediate threat.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants had pursued the robbers after losing their cocaine and that Taukei’aho’s use of force was excessive.
Jury delivers not-guilty verdicts
Sue’s lawyer, Karun Lakshman, argued that his client had arranged the drug transaction but neither anticipated nor agreed to a shooting.
He also pointed out that Sue’s DNA and fingerprints were not found on the firearm recovered by police.
In his summing up, Justice Andru Isac reminded jurors that the defendants’ involvement in drug dealing did not automatically make them criminally responsible for Hard’s death.
After approximately 10 hours of deliberations, the 11-member jury returned not-guilty verdicts on the homicide charges.
Taukei’aho and Sue are scheduled to be sentenced in the High Court at Wellington in December on the cocaine-related offences they admitted at the beginning of the trial.
