A cordon at the scene on Cheyenne St, Sockburn, in June 2022. Photo: RNZ / Tessa Guest
The victim's surname has been corrected in this story.
The sentencing of a man who stabbed a woman to death to life imprisonment led to applause in a packed High Court in Christchurch today.
Zakariye Mohamed Hussein had escaped from a forensic mental health unit at Hillmorton Hospital the day he stabbed Laisa Waka Tunidau to death outside her Sockburn home in June.
Her then 11-year-old son watched out the window as his mum lay dying on the footpath, just metres from the house.
Around 50 people stood and sat in the public gallery, some quietly crying, holding onto each other and clutching tissues.
At just 12, Laisa Waka Tunidau's youngest son, Eparama Waaka Tunidau, was the first family member to read a victim statement.
"I will never forget that day, looking out the window seeing police and ambulances and her lying on the ground, not knowing that was my mum. Sometimes I can't sleep, I have nightmares and wake up scared," he sobbed.
His 19-year-old sister, Sereana Tunidau, spoke of the deep grief her mother's death had inflicted, describing it as a black hole.
"Every day, I am filled with sadness. Anger. Grief. And many other overwhelming emotions since the day she died. Most of all, I am devastated that my unborn child and any future children will never have my mum as their grandmother," she said.
Sereana Tunidau also addressed Hussein, dressed in orange prison clothing with his head bowed behind the glass wall.
"She never hurt a soul. Never did anything bad to you, to your family or to anyone. You'll forever be known as a murderer. You don't deserve the privilege of being a free man again."
Eldest child, Epineri Tunidau, said he was still getting used to speaking about his mother in past tense.
"Happiness has been replaced by sadness. Laughter has been replaced by longing. We are now grievers and grief counsellors, we are both in need of healing and unqualified healers," he read.
"We are siblings, hanging on oh so tightly to our late mother's memories. We remember her smile. We miss her soft voice. We remember her love."
Waka's husband, Nemani Tunidau, explained their lives have been left in tatters.
"Everything we struggled for to build a good life has been shattered. My children are often sad and emotional. I won't ever forget telling my children that they have lost their mother," he said.
Nemani Tunidau was driving back from Waimate, where he had been distributing food and clothing for seasonal workers, the day his wife of 26 years died.
He got a call from his youngest son crying, saying to pray for mum because she had been injured.
A short time later, a police officer knocked at the door and he realised his wife had been killed, not injured.
"I started to cry ... it was the worst day of my life."
He and his children missed their mother's cooking and hugs, he said.
Unaisi Ralege also gave a statement on behalf of Laisa Waka's church.
She said Waka was a talented baker, a skilful weaver and could always be called upon to make decorations for church events.
"Our women's group continues to think of Laisa's contributions... The demise of Laisa reminds us as women, we live in a vulnerable environment and if the state fails to create a safer community for us to live in, there will be more deaths," Ralege told the court.
Hussein had previously served more than six years in prison for kidnapping, stabbing and intimidating multiple people across Christchurch in March 2012.
Marteine Robin was a victim of Hussein's 2012 stabbing spree and was at today's sentencing.
He held her at knife point inside her delivery truck before stabbing her in the arm.
"To say there were butterflies going was an understatement. I haven't seen him since he got sentenced for [my attack] so it was a bit gut-wrenching," she explained.
"To hear the judge repeat exactly the same things he was telling them when he was sentenced for [the 2012 attack]...that sucked."
Robin believed Hussein would never change.
Justice Mander handed down a life sentence with a 13-year no parole period.
Hussein will also serve an 18 month concurrent sentence for assaulting a psychiatric nurse late last year.
Justice Mander also praised the family for their statements and assured them their mother and wife would be proud of them.
Te Whatu Ora is yet to release the findings of two investigations being carried out into the incident.
