Key Takeaways
- In August 2022, a pack of 23 dogs owned by Wira escaped from a caravan and fatally mauled Thomson while Wira was away running errands; Thomson had not fed the dogs for two days.
- Wira was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years’ imprisonment for manslaughter related to the dog attack.
- While the manslaughter case proceeded, Wira faced trial in the Kaikohe District Court for historical sexual offences, including the rape of a teenage hitchhiker in 2003 and unlawful sexual connection with a child under 12.
- The jury acquitted him of most charges but convicted him of one count of unlawful sexual connection with a child, for which he received a cumulative six‑year sentence added to his existing manslaughter term.
- Judge Greg Davis praised the child victim’s courage, emphasized that the offences were solely Wira’s responsibility, and ordered Wira to be placed on the child sex offender register and to appear before the Parole Board for any future release.
- Wira’s prior 2003 conviction for raping a teenage hitchhiker resulted in a six‑year prison term; he had been released on parole before committing the later offences.
- The article is reported by Shannon Pitman, a Whangārei‑based Open Justice journalist of Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Pūkenga descent covering Te Tai Tokerau courts.
Background of the Dog‑Attack Incident
In 2022, Wira agreed to house‑sit Thomson’s home in Panguru while Thomson’s landlord was away in the South Island. Wira arrived with a large pack of dogs—six adults and seventeen puppies—keeping them confined in a caravan on the property. The dogs were reportedly left unfed for extended periods, sometimes going without food for days. On the morning of 4 August 2022, while Wira was out running errands and Thomson was at home speaking on the phone to his partner, the hungry dogs broke free from the caravan. They attacked Thomson, inflicting fatal injuries. Thomson died at the scene, and the incident prompted a police investigation that quickly focused on Wira’s failure to provide adequate care and supervision for the animals.
Legal Outcome of the Manslaughter Charge
Following the attack, Wira was charged with manslaughter for his role in the dogs’ escape and the resulting death. The Crown argued that his neglect—failing to feed the dogs for two days and allowing them to remain unsupervised—constituted a gross breach of duty that directly led to Thomson’s killing. In October 2022, Wira pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years’ imprisonment. The judge noted the aggravating factors of the prolonged neglect and the number of animals involved, while also acknowledging Wira’s lack of prior violent convictions at that time.
Parallel Proceedings for Historical Sexual Offences
While the manslaughter case moved through the courts, another prosecution was underway in the Kaikohe District Court concerning Wira’s historical sexual behaviour. In January of the following year, Wira stood trial on several charges, including multiple counts of male rape of a female under the age of twelve and unlawful sexual connection with a child. The prosecution presented evidence that the alleged offences occurred on multiple occasions over several years, with the victim describing repeated incidents where Wira compelled her to perform sexual acts on him.
Jury Verdict on the Sexual Offence Charges
After deliberation, the jury acquitted Wira of all but one of the charges: they found him not guilty of the rape allegations but guilty of a single count of unlawful sexual connection with a child. The convicted offence involved Wira making a child perform a sexual act on him. The victim testified that the abuse happened repeatedly, and the jury accepted that this particular act met the legal threshold for unlawful sexual connection. The acquittals on the more serious rape charges reflected the jury’s assessment of the evidence and credibility of the witnesses involved.
Reference to Wira’s Earlier Sexual Conviction
The court also heard that Wira had a prior sexual offence conviction from 2003. In that case, a teenage hitchhiker accepted a ride from Wira near Springs Flat, north of Kamo, intending to travel to Kerikeri. During the journey, the young woman fell asleep; Wira then drove to a remote location, locked the car doors when she attempted to exit, and, realizing she could not overpower him, she pretended to be unconscious. Wira proceeded to rape her. After the assault, she managed to escape, flag down a passing motorist, and report the crime. For that offence, Wira was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment, a term he had already served before being released on parole.
Sentencing for the Recent Sexual Offence
At the sentencing hearing in the Whangārei District Court, Judge Greg Davis addressed the child victim directly, commending her bravery for coming forward and stating unequivocally that “None of what has happened has anything to do with you. This is all Mr Wira’s doing.” He emphasized that the victim had been living “physically and mentally on the run” since the abuse. Crown prosecutor Richard Annandale highlighted the pattern of behaviour: a man who had served a lengthy prison sentence for sexual violence, been released on parole, and then re‑offended against a child. Wira’s defence counsel, Mathew Ridgley, argued that the final sentence should reflect the cumulative nature of his offending, noting that Wira had been eligible for parole at the time of the manslaughter conviction. Judge Davis ultimately imposed a six‑year prison term for the unlawful sexual connection conviction, to be served consecutively to the existing three‑and‑a‑half‑year manslaughter sentence. Consequently, Wira faces a total of ten years’ incarceration before eligibility for parole. In addition, he was ordered to be placed on the child sex offender register and must appear before the Parole Board for any future release consideration.
Implications for Public Safety and Offender Management
The case underscores significant concerns about the management of high‑risk offenders re‑entering the community. Wira’s trajectory—convicted of a brutal rape in 2003, released on parole, subsequently neglecting a large pack of dogs leading to a fatal mauling, and then committing a further sexual offence against a child—illustrates potential gaps in supervision, risk assessment, and intervention strategies. The judge’s remarks and the Crown’s commentary both stress the need for the community to recognize the pattern of behaviour and to consider whether current parole and monitoring mechanisms are sufficient to prevent repeat offending. The placement of Wira on the child sex offender register aims to provide long‑term monitoring and public notification, while the requirement to appear before the Parole Board ensures that any future release will be subject to rigorous scrutiny.
About the Reporter
The article was authored by Shannon Pitman, a Whangārei‑based reporter for Open Justice who covers courts in the Te Tai Tokerau region. Pitman identifies as of Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Pūkenga descent and has worked in digital media for the past five years, joining NZME in 2023. Her reporting focuses on delivering clear, accurate accounts of judicial proceedings, particularly those involving serious criminal matters such as the cases outlined above.