Brought to you by NZCity

 | main | news | security | policing 24 Apr 2024 | crime.co.nz 
SEARCH: 
 Main NZ law and order news
Send a link to this article to a friend via email
 crime.files
  
 Murder
 Unsolved
 Sexual Crime
 White Collar
 Child Abuse
 Political & Misc.

 crime.features
  
 Crime news
 Home security
 Business security
 Security services
 Policing NZ
 NZ Parole Board
 Psychology&Law
 Kidz Korner
 Firearms in NZ

 crime.resources
  
 Prevention
 For Victims
 Drug Abuse
 Alcohol Abuse
 Legal Resources
 Crime Statistics
 Family Violence
 Support Services
 NewsLinks

 crime.co.nz
  
 HOME
 About Us
 Contribute
 Contact Us
 Feedback
 NZCity


Click here to add crime.co.nz to your NZCity Personal Start Page

Kenneth Pigott - killed by a 14 year old for his car
14 year old Renee Kara O’Brien set out on the evening of March 10 2002 with the sole intention of stealing a car. Finding 60 year old grandfather Kenneth Pigott asleep in his four-wheel drive, she struck him in the head eight times with a hammer and threw his dead body into the Waitara River.
Leaving her friend’s Aunt’s house, Renee Kara O’Brien went looking for a car to steal. Returning to her home at 3am, Renee told her father that she was going out again. She hooked up with friends, Kararaina Makere Te Rauna and Puti Irene Heather Maxwell, they set off to find a car and drink some alcohol.

60 year old Kenneth Pigott had also been drinking with friends at a local Waitara pub on the evening of March 10. Falling asleep in his Four-wheel-drive, he was woken by Renee O’Brien and her friends.

While Kararaina distracted Mr. Pigott, Renee produced a hammer. She smashed the man over the head eight times before he fall to ground. The other two girls kicked him before they all dragged him over the stop bank and into the river.

After dumping the body, they stole Kenneth Pigott's car and took it joy riding around the streets of Waitara, visiting friends and even tooting as they drove past the police station.

After dropping Puti Maxwell at home the other two girls headed toward Palmerston North, finally abandoning the vehicle several hours away from Waitara north of Wanganui

Kenneth Pigott body was found the following afternoon on the 11th March 2002.

All three girls were arrested and have since appeared in court:

Kararaine Makere Te Rauna, pled guilty to manslaughter on 26th August and has been sentenced to 8 years and 9 months jail

Puti Irene Heather Maxwell pled guilty to manslaughter on 11/09/02.

Renee Kara O’Brien was charged with murder and was found guilty only three hours after the jury left the court. She hung her head during the trail and hid her face throughout the proceeding. She was remanded in custody.



Back to Murder Index
 

After drinking at a local pub and falling asleep in his car 60 year old Kenneth Pigott was woken by Renee O’Brien and friends at between 3 and 4am

© 2024 NZCity
For marketing opportunities contact: www.webads.co.nz