A man and two teenagers have been jailed over the killing of gay Polish tourist Roman Skorek, bringing the total number of people behind bars in relation to the crime to four. Skorek’s body was found mutilated in Kuirau Park on January 2012. The 64-year-old was had been drinking with a group of young men in the park when one, Rawiri Samuel, became angry because he thought the older man was hitting on one of his friends, Simon Herewini. Skorek was attacked, and was kicked and punched in the head and body for 20 minutes as he lay on the ground. He ultimately died from a stab wound to the chest. Samuel has already been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non parole period of 12 years, after pleading guilty to his part in the attack. Today Simon Herewini, 22, has been sentenced to life in jail, with a minimum non-parole period of 14 years for Skorek’s murder. After originally pleading not guilty, he changed his plea to guilty in August. Fifteen-year-olds William Edwards and Leslie Glen were also sentenced today for intentionally causing grievous bodily harm to Skorek. Edwards received a sentence of four years and three months, and Glen was sentenced to two years and six months, according to media reports.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 4th October 2013 - 5:52pm