GUEST BLOG: Bryan Bruce – The “sweet Kid” and his “gentle” victim
Yesterday 14 year old Haami Hanara was convicted of murdering 40 year old homeless man Kelly Donner behind a Flaxmere Tavern in March of this year.
Hanara’s family described Haami as a “sweet kid” and some pf those who knew Kelly Donner described him as a lovely, friendly “gentle” guy.
So how does one nice person end up killing another nice person?
The trial didn’t tell us.
Trials often don’t, because the prosecution is simply focused on proving who did it and the defence on countering that evidence.
The why question – the motivation -is often never discussed.
We know that 4 other teenagers whose ages range from 14 to 16 were involved in the attack.
What we don’t know is what underlying social forces brought the victim and his killer together.
Why was Kelly Donner homeless?
Why was he reduced to hunting for cigarette stubs behind the Flaxmere Tavern that night?
Why were Haami Hanara and his mates out after 10 pm on a Saturday night trying to break into a tavern to get alcohol?
Why was he carrying a knife?
What do we know about the home life of the five young attackers?
What efforts has the community been making to tackle the issue of teenagers at risk? Or to improve parenting skills?
What efforts were made to provide Kelly with a safe place to sleep or deal with his life issues?
What part does poverty , inequality and the politics of selfishness play in generating violent crimes?
Don’t get me wrong – I’m not looking to point an accusing finger or apportion blame.
But we learn nothing from such terrible events if we fail to ask ourselves the uncomfortable question -What kind of society are we creating where such tragic things happen?
Yes, individuals who commit crimes must take responsibility for them – but our community sets the scene for such crimes to happen …and for THAT we must ALL take responsibility.
Bryan Bruce is one of NZs most respected documentary makers and public intellectuals who has tirelessly exposed NZs neoliberal economic settings as the main cause for social issues.
Its a sad event on all accounts.
Hope the kid turns his life around, does his time and makes amends with the Donner family.
what load of bullshert Dennis are you a psychologist ? people can change and they do if they have the right environment and the right people around them and the means to do so.
The legal system in NZ doesn’t work .. except for the police, lawyers and friends of judges – for them it works pretty well.