Teenager Sentenced to Three Years for Killing 16-Year-Old at Dunedin Bus Hub

A 14-year-old boy has been sentenced to three years and three months in prison for the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Enere McLaren-Taana at the Dunedin bus hub last year.

The incident, which took place on May 23, 2024, involved a confrontation between the two boys who were previously unknown to each other. According to court records, Enere McLaren-Taana, who was 16 at the time, was killed after he told the younger boy to pull up his socks and called him names such as “b**ch boy” and “sackless c**t.”

The stabbing was captured on CCTV and cellphone footage, and multiple witnesses described the events during the trial. Enere’s family attended the sentencing, many wearing shirts with his face and name, and Bible verses on the back. The courtroom was filled with emotional impact statements from his family members, including his father, John McLaren, who described the trauma of losing his son.

John McLaren, a 58-year-old father of six, shared how his son, known as JJ, had said “I love you, Dad” before leaving for school on the day of the incident. He described the past year as the hardest of his life and expressed how the loss had affected him deeply. He also mentioned that he had been made redundant after the tragedy and had not worked since.

Enere’s older brother, Rick McLaren, also gave a victim impact statement, expressing his anger and frustration. He stated that the death of his brother had ruined their family’s life and that he had struggled to deal with the loss. He also mentioned that he had lost his business and had not been able to move on.

Enere’s grandmother, Tere Taana, recalled the last time she saw him alive, saying that he had told her “I love you, Nana.” She expressed her anger at the boy and said that the trauma would be on his heart for the rest of his life.

Crown prosecutor Richard Smith argued for a sentence of 7 to 8 years, citing the severity of the crime. However, the defense, led by Anne Stevens KC, highlighted the defendant’s youth, remorse, and potential for rehabilitation. Justice Osborne ultimately sentenced the teen to three years and three months, noting the boy’s lack of intent to kill and his remorse for the tragedy.

Enere’s family was disappointed with the sentence, with John McLaren questioning the value of his son’s life. He also emphasized the importance of the correct spelling of his son’s name, which had been mispronounced during the trial.

The defendant had been on bail since his conviction in June and had complied with all conditions. The court also granted the defendant a final order of name suppression, and the victim’s family was not granted a discharge without conviction.