Key Takeaways
- A friend of Harley Shrimpton testified that two masked men came to his home looking for Shrimpton, took his phone and threatened him with violence if he reported the incident.
- The Crown alleges the men were defendants Piripi Tukaokao and Tuara Heke, linking the alleged robbery to Shrimpton’s subsequent kidnapping and murder.
- Shrimpton was heavily involved in methamphetamine use and drug‑related debts; witnesses described his attempts to “sort” debts and his growing fear of violent reprisals.
- Telecommunications data show Shrimpton expressing anxiety about being shot and Tukaokao repeatedly demanding payment, warning Shrimpton he could “get shot for this s***”.
- The prosecution says Tukaokao used the stolen phone to lure Shrimpton to a meeting, after which Shrimpton was shot, died and buried on a rural property; the defence claims the shooting was accidental.
- The trial continues in the High Court at Rotorua, with both defendants denying the charges against them.
Background of the Trial
The High Court in Rotorua is hearing the case against Tuara Heke, 21, and Piripi Tukaokao, 23, who face charges relating to the 2023 death of Harley Shrimpton. Shrimpton, a young man known to use methamphetamine, disappeared on 3 November 2023 and was later found dead on a rural property in the Western Bay of Plenty. The Crown alleges that Shrimpton was kidnapped and murdered by Tukaokao, with Heke accused of assisting in moving the body. Both defendants deny the charges: Heke says he was not present at the alleged robbery, while Tukaokao denies any violence or threats and maintains that Shrimpton’s death was an accidental shooting.
Friend’s Testimony of the Robbery
A close friend of Shrimpton, who remains under interim name suppression, gave emotional evidence describing the early‑morning visit of two masked men to his Pāpāmoa home on 3 November 2023. He said he had been “crashed out” on the couch with his dog when he heard tapping at the door, initially thinking it was his mates. Upon opening the door, he saw two men he “didn’t want to see” and immediately sensed danger. The friend recounted feeling “f***ed” and believed that politely refusing entry would not have ended well for him.
Description of the Masked Men
The witness described the intruders as “big guys,” one noticeably taller than the other, both substantially larger than himself. One wore a knit balaclava; the other sported a Halloween‑type mask with a white face. They entered the home, looked for Shrimpton, and then positioned themselves on either side of the friend, demanding that he call Shrimpton. When Shrimpton did not answer, the men seized the friend’s phone and an old broken phone, insisting on the access code. The encounter lasted roughly five minutes, and the friend emphasized that the men were not there to “f*** around.”
Threats and Decision to Report
During the intrusion, the men threatened the friend, warning that if he told the police or anyone else they would return and “put me in a box.” Despite having previously been warned that reporting the alleged robbery would result in being “put in a box,” the friend went to the Tauranga Police Station and disclosed what had occurred. His testimony highlighted the intimidation tactics used by the alleged perpetrators and his resolve to involve law enforcement despite personal fear.
Shrimpton’s Drug Use and Debt Landscape
The friend also spoke about Shrimpton’s methamphetamine use during the period they were closely associated. He noted that Shrimpton “was starting to get a strong sense that he had a number of debts out there” and advised him to leave town, a suggestion Shrimpton rejected. The friend observed that Shrimpton was not ready to “give up the drugs,” indicating a deep entrenchment in substance use that likely contributed to his financial pressures.
Witness Account of Lifestyle and Homelessness
A woman known to Shrimpton, also under interim name suppression, corroborated the friend’s observations. She testified that neither she nor Shrimpton had been employed in the weeks before his disappearance; they spent their days taking drugs, with Shrimpton selling drugs to fund their habit. They had experienced homelessness, living temporarily out of her car. She said Shrimpton frequently owed money for drugs but typically “sorted it” or managed to evade collectors—until October 2023, when he began avoiding debts with individuals ready to collect. That month, Shrimpton was assaulted by a man nicknamed “Moon” over a $400 debt, and the woman’s dog was taken.
Escalating Threats via Telecommunications
The Crown presented a 42‑page booklet derived from Shrimpton’s phone, revealing calls and messages in the final weeks of his life. On 2 October, Shrimpton messaged the woman, saying he “f*kd up the other night” and that he was “probably gna gt shot lol.” He later wrote, “I’m stressed out gta make 1200 in nxt hour,” and expressed doubt about hearing from her again, even hoping they would “dispose of me” as a favour. From 4 October onward, Tukaokao began texting Shrimpton demanding payment, using phrases such as “clock in,” “you could get shot for this s butha,” and warning that Shrimpton’s bill had doubled because of the “whole f around.” The messages show a pattern of increasing pressure, with Tukaokao telling Shrimpton he was “lucky to still be walking” and that further delay would invite violence.
From Phone Theft to Alleged Kidnapping
The prosecution contends that Tukaokao used the stolen phone to arrange a meeting with Shrimpton. After Shrimpton saw Tukaokao, he attempted to flee with friends, but Tukaokao caught up with them at a Mount Maunganui McDonald’s, where CCTV captured Shrimpton entering Tukaokao’s vehicle. The Crown alleges that Shrimpton was kidnapped at that point, transported to a remote property on Poripori Road outside Tauranga, shot in the chest, and buried in a shallow hole. Tukaokao denies murder, claiming the shooting was accidental and that he did not intend to kill Shrimpton.
Defence Position and Current Status of the Trial
Tuara Heke maintains he was not present during the alleged robbery or any subsequent events, while Piripi Tukaokao admits to being with Shrimpton on the day of his death but insists the shooting was unintentional. The defence challenges the prosecution’s narrative of premeditated murder, emphasizing the lack of direct evidence of intent and highlighting the chaotic circumstances surrounding Shrimpton’s drug‑related lifestyle. As the trial proceeds, the jury is tasked with weighing the friend’s testimony, the woman’s account, the telecommunications evidence, and the competing interpretations of the fatal shooting. The outcome will hinge on whether the jury finds that the alleged robbery, threats, and subsequent actions constitute aggravated robbery, kidnapping, and murder, or whether they accept the defence’s claim of an accidental shooting absent criminal intent.
Conclusion
The case against Tuara Heke and Piripi Tukaokao intertwines allegations of a violent robbery, intimidation, drug‑related debt, and a fatal shooting that the Crown argues was a deliberate act of murder. Witnesses paint a picture of a young man trapped in a cycle of methamphetamine use and mounting financial obligations, whose fears of violent reprisals were communicated both personally and through threatening messages. The trial’s continuation in the High Court at Rotorua will determine whether the prosecution’s chain of evidence—spanning the friend’s traumatic encounter, the woman’s corroboration, the phone data, and the CCTV footage—proves guilt beyond reasonable doubt, or whether the defence’s argument of an accidental encounter will prevail. Regardless of the verdict, the proceedings underscore the severe consequences that can arise from untreated substance abuse, unresolved debt, and the use of intimidation in criminal enterprises.