Full Breakdown
Upper Hutt Home Invasion: Violence, Sexual Assault, and Sentencing Over a Disputed iPhone Sale
7/8/2026, 4:23:21 AM
The Horror of the Upper Hutt Home Invasion
At 10:50 pm on a Birchville street, five men forced entry into a family home, delivering an hour-long assault that included head blows, kicks, hair-pulling, and the sexual assault of the mother. They stole two guitars, two cellphones, car keys, a PlayStation, speakers, jewellery and cash, and threatened further violence with a kitchen knife. Justice Grau described the episode as akin to a horror movie, noting damage to the family’s sense of safety.
Disputed iPhone Sale as Catalyst
The violence stemmed from a June 2023 deal in which Hiiata Te Amo bought a second-hand iPhone from the 21-year-old son for an ounce of cannabis, later claiming it was defective and organising a robbery with four accomplices.
Key Figures
- Luka (26) – primary assailant, sexually assaulted the mother twice.
- Hiiata Te Amo – instigator, brandished a knife.
- Jovie Andrews – filmed the assault.
- Onehimo Palesau, Junior Manuele – minor participants.
- Victims – 50-year-old father, his wife and their 21-year-old son.
Timeline
- June 2023 – iPhone purchase dispute.
- Night of attack – 10:50 pm entry; assault >1 hour; mother forced to withdraw $1,500.
- Three days later – family reported the crime.
- Sentencing – Justice Grau delivered judgments and imposed sentences.
Sentencing and Judicial Reasoning
Luka faced 20 charges, including four sexual offences, aggravated robbery, assault, blackmail, kidnapping, threats, strangulation and making an intimate visual recording. He received 18 years’ imprisonment (minimum 10 years non-parole). Te Amo got 4 years 4 months; Andrews 4 years 2 months plus $2,950 reparations; Palesau nine months’ home detention, 300 hours community work and $2,950 reparations. The Crown’s Tim Bain sought preventive detention, arguing Luka posed an extremely high risk of reoffending. Defense lawyer Karun Lakshman presented Luka’s apology letter expressing regret and counselling. The judge rejected preventive detention, citing a Law Commission review, and imposed a lengthy finite term to protect the community without imposing a “crushing” sentence.
Victims’ Impact and Calls for Maximum Penalty
The father demanded a death-row-style sentence, the mother called Luka a “sick individual,” and the son described daily depression and helplessness. The mother also contracted a sexually transmitted disease. All three urged the court to impose the maximum penalty, emphasizing psychological trauma and loss of safety.
Direct Voices from the Courtroom
- “I wish New Zealand had [a] death row sentence for you in which I would greatly accept.” — Father, victim
- “The event had the quality of a horror movie.” — Justice Grau
- “I’m taking your wife. No cops, or you will never see her again.” — Luka
- “Do you want some more?” — Hiiata Te Amo
What’s Next
Luka’s sentence includes a ten-year non-parole period, after which parole eligibility will be reviewed. The Crown may consider appeal if preventive detention is needed for public safety. Corrections will monitor offenders’ drug use and compliance with counselling orders.
