Warning: This story discusses graphic details of violence.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Teenager Ariki Rigby was brutally murdered following an argument sparked by her wearing a gang member’s t-shirt, it has been revealed.<\/p>\n
Jimmy Heremaia, a 32-year-old orchard worker from Auckland, has pleaded guilty to the murder of 18-year-old Ariki Rigby.<\/p>\n
Hawke’s Bay teenager Ariki Rigby was murdered following an argument over a Mongrel Mob t-shirt.<\/p>\n
Heremaia pleaded guilty at the High Court in Napier on Friday to the murder of the 18-year-old, whose body was found in a burnt out car in Havelock North in September 2022.<\/p>\n
Ropine Paul, 29, a labourer from Havelock North, pleaded guilty to arson.<\/p>\n
The summary of facts, detailing the events leading to Rigby’s death, can now be reported.<\/p>\n
It said Heremaia – a patched Mongrel Mob member – and Rigby met three weeks before her death, forming a close connection and communicating regularly.<\/p>\n
On 31 August, Rigby wore Heremaia’s Mongrel Mob t-shirt out in public.<\/p>\n
“She … was confronted by another patched member of the Mongrel Mob who saw the act as a serious breach of the gang’s rules,” the summary said.<\/p>\n
“Mr Heremaia was instructed by his seniors to retrieve the t-shirt from Ms Rigby, which he did later that day.”<\/p>\n
A few days later Heremaia learned his patch had been taken from his family home. The Crown said that was because Rigby had worn the t-shirt.<\/p>\n
Heremaia picked up Rigby and took her to “an isolated location” where they argued before she swung a weapon at him.<\/p>\n
“He blocked her, before overpowering her and taking the weapon from her,” the summary said.<\/p>\n
“He went on to use it to strike her several times including to the head.”<\/p>\n
Rigby died from those injuries.<\/p>\n
Heremaia then placed her body in the car and drove to Paul’s home, requesting his help to “get rid” of the body.<\/p>\n
They drove to a remote car park by a river and used petrol to set fire to the car, with Rigby’s body inside.<\/p>\n
Heremaia and Paul will be sentenced at the High Court in Napier on 11 April.<\/p>\n
Detective Inspector David De Lange of Eastern District Police said he acknowledged Ariki’s wh\u0101nau, “who have waited so long to see the person responsible held accountable for her tragic death”.<\/p>\n
“We also acknowledge those Police staff who worked meticulously over a long period of time to piece together the evidence that has brought about this result today”.<\/p>\n
At the time of Rigby’s funeral, a family spokesperson said she was a beautiful, passionate person, who lived life at “full throttle”.<\/p>\n
Heremaia was arrested in September last year, and Paul was arrested the following month.<\/p>\n