Lawyers have agreed on a summary of facts, making the details of the crime public for the first time.
Last month Mikaere Puata-Chaney pleaded guilty to the murders of his ex-partner Eliza Trubuhovich and her father Geoffrey Trubuhovich. Provided below is a brief outline of the summary of facts for the purposes of Puata-Chaney’s sentencing.
On 15 July last year he drove from his house in Te Atatu Peninsula to the Trubuhovich property in Glendene where he fataly shot the father and daughter at close range. He also shot and killed a dog he and Ms. Trubuhovich jointly owned.
Puata-Cheney, a member of the Head Hunters gang, already had a significant history of violence. At the time of the murders he was on electronically monitored bail while awaiting trial for his part in the high profile Sofitel Hotel shooting case – he was eventually found guilty of discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and sentenced to 3 years and 5 months prison.
Puata-Chaney and Ms. Trubuhovich were a relationship for a year, but had been separated for months as at the date of the murders. They had argued on the phone earlier in the day. Two friends of Trubuhovich reported Puata-Chaney had been abusive and threatening towards her, believing she was seeing another man. Consumed with jealousy, he drove to the house, arriving there at 2.59pm.
He walked to the front door, carrying a guitar case in which a gun and ammunition were concealed.
He forced the front door open, and pulled from the house with one hand and dragged her onto the front lawn. Mr. Trubuhovich arrived on the scene to investigate, along with the dog. Puata-Chaney immediately fired multiple shots at the father, killing him.
He then turned to Eliza Trubuhovich.
‘Don’t do it, please don’t do it,’ she screamed.
Puata-Chaney shot her at close range, firing into her body multiple times.
It was later determined that Geoffrey Trubuhovich had died from a bullet through his heart. Eliza Trubuhovich had gunshot wounds to the back of her head, and back.
Puata-Chaney will be sentenced for the murders of Eliza Trubuhovich and her father Geoffrey in July.
