At least 20 years’ jail for Mellory Manning murder

Mongrel Mob gang prospect Mauha Huatahi Fawcett has been jailed for at least 20 years as part of his life sentence for the murder of sex worker Mellory Manning, a killing the Crown described as “barbaric and senseless”.Crown prosecutor Phil Shamy said 27-year-old Miss Manning’s family had heard the chilling account of the victim crawling through her own blood while gang members stood around shouting Nazi salutes and barking, before her mutilated body was dumped in the Avon River.

The sentencing of 26-year-old Fawcett in the High Court in Christchurch comes two months after a jury found him guilty of the December 18, 2008 murder. Fawcett has always denied his direct involvement in the killing of Miss Manning, who was also down as Ngatai Lynette Manning.

Mr Shamy said Fawcett had been “a fully dedicated member” of the gang. “He had fully embraced the gang life and what occurred on this evening.” He had been actively involved in the homicide by picking Miss Manning up and taking her to the property in Galbraith Avenue, Avonside, where the killing occurred. He had also participated by striking her with a pole and disposing of her body.

He said the murder had been carried out as a planned gang “hit” on Miss Manning for refusing to pay the mob’s tax on sex workers, or for drug debts. It was carried out with “brutality, cruelty, depravity and callousness”.

In one of his interviews with the police, Fawcett had described the killing as “a blood-bath”. Mr Shamy described four weapons being used in the killing – a pole, hammer, tomahawk, and knife.

He denied there had been any coercion to get Fawcett involved. He had been an active and willing participant. It was to be his hit, to earn him his gang patch – his full membership.

Fawcett was aged 21 at the time. Since his conviction, he had refused to co-operate in the preparation of his pre-sentence report.

Fawcett declined to say anything in court when given the chance by the judge. His court-appointed legal adviser, Craig Ruane, told the court Fawcett had been found guilty of being a party to murder, but the court must make it clear at the sentencing what role it found the man played in the killing.

If the court found that his role had been as a look-out, to find Miss Manning, and to open up the gang pad, the court could conclude that he played a relatively minor role in something which grew out of his control.

He submitted that the court should be wary of attributing any blame to Fawcett other than as a party, on the perphery of the killing.

Justice Gendall acknowledged the presence of Miss Manning’s family and friends, and the loss they had suffered.

He said Fawcett had played a role in luring Miss Manning into a car on Manchester Street, and showing her a threatening text message from another mob member. She was taken to a gang pad where she was attacked by gang members with dangerous weapons to inflict 66 wounds to her body. She had been sexually violated and raped and subjected to a prolonged, merciless, and violent attack by more than one person which ultimately caused her death.

“An innocent life was taken suddenly, violently, and needlessly,” he said. The victim impact statements told of “a family that has been broken forever”.

He said Fawcett had an unfortunate background. He had been brought up in a gang environment and had been introduced to drug use at an early age. He had been using cannabis since he was aged eight, and methamphetamine since the age of 14.

He had never held a job. Over the last eight years he had amassed 48 convictions and had spent a significant part of that time in prison.

Justice Gendall said he was satisfied that Fawcett played a significant role in the actual killing, which was an organised gang hit on Miss Manning.

He considered Crown and defence submissions about the length of the non-parole term as part of the life sentence, and imposed 20 years. He said Fawcett was regarded as a secondary party. He had not been the “mastermind” of the killing but he had been an active participant, rather than being on the periphery.

Miss Manning’s boyfriend, Kent Gorrie, said she had been a beautiful, fun-loving young woman “who was viciously taken away from me and everyone she touched”.

“She inspired me to be better,” he told the court. “We loved each other in the most passion-filled days of my life. She pushed me into getting on the right path with my life. She was one in a billion.”

His mother, Frances Gorrie, told Fawcett he was sadly mistaken if he thought it was “manly”  to stand around a woman’s battered body barking and shouting Nazi salutes. No-one there had been man enough to help her. “Shame on you and your kind,” she said.

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