A man who attacked and killed Indian national Ramandeep Singh while he was on duty as a security guard in West Auckland has been sentenced to life sentence with a minimum term of imprisonment of 13 years and nine months, The New Zealand Herald reported.
The sentencing took place in the High Court at Auckland, where Justice Geoffrey Venning described the murder as "brutal and callous," noting that Singh, 25, was unarmed, of slight build, and simply doing his job when the unprovoked attack occurred. The judge emphasised the need to protect the public, highlighting the offender’s history of violence.
Lorenzo Tangira, who was 26 at the time of the offence in December 2023, admitted to being present during the fatal assault but denied delivering the most serious blows. His 17-year-old co-accused was found unfit to stand trial after a separate hearing in April.
Singh, who had moved to New Zealand five years prior for higher education, was working a second job as a security guard. He was closing a local reserve when he encountered the teen and Tangira, who had spent the evening drinking. According to the summary of facts, Singh initially became involved in a confrontation with the teenager before Tangira joined in.
Ramandeep Singh/Photo: Supplied
Tangira was described in court documents as having grabbed Singh by the back of his hi-vis vest, swung him around, and delivered repeated punches to his face. Weighing just 46kg, Singh fell to the ground with facial injuries but managed to reach his work vehicle in an attempt to flee. The teenager then jumped on the bonnet to block his escape.
During the pursuit, Tangira's hand was caught in the car door. He attempted to reach Singh through the back of the vehicle before Singh was pulled out and the beating continued. Both attackers punched, kicked, and stomped on Singh, resulting in multiple facial fractures, brain injuries, and significant internal trauma. A post-mortem report confirmed extensive damage to his skull, jaw, cheekbones, and eye sockets, along with injuries to his throat and neck consistent with stomping.
Singh’s body was found in bushes near his vehicle by the time police arrived. He was partially unclothed, and his phone and bag were missing. Blood stains were found throughout Tangira’s home, leading to his arrest shortly after the attack.
The murder shocked Singh’s family, who watched the sentencing remotely from overseas. In a victim impact statement read to the court, Singh’s sister described him as her “closest friend and guide,” expressing disbelief that such violence could occur while he was simply working. She questioned how anyone could feel secure if someone like her brother could be killed in this manner.
Justice Venning shared her concerns, calling the murder unprovoked and noting Tangira had multiple opportunities to stop the assault but chose not to, Herald reported. The judge said Tangira’s actions likely encouraged his co-offender.
According to Herald, Singh’s parents also submitted a joint statement, describing the cruelty of their son’s death as beyond comprehension. They said their home had become a place of grief and silence since his death, and they were tormented by the thought that he tried to retreat but was dragged from his car and beaten to death.
Herald also quoted another friend and former roommate of Singh described him as polite and non-confrontational. He said Singh’s compassion and kindness had left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him and expressed anguish over the brutality of Singh’s final moments.
In court, defence lawyer Vivienne Feyen submitted a letter of apology from Tangira, arguing that while he had acknowledged his presence during the killing, he maintained that he did not inflict the fatal injuries. Feyen requested a reduced non-parole period of around 11 years, citing Tangira’s guilty plea, expressions of remorse, and his troubled upbringing in a violent household.
Crown prosecutor Alysha McClintock acknowledged the guilty plea and difficult background but argued for a longer sentence due to the extreme nature of the violence, Herald reported.
Justice Venning rejected claims of meaningful remorse, stating that Tangira’s letter lacked sincerity. He noted that while Tangira may not have delivered every head stomp, the attack was so sustained and gratuitous that parsing individual acts of violence was inappropriate.
Describing Tangira as a physically imposing man and Singh as small, the judge began with a 15-year starting point for the non-parole period. He allowed only minor deductions—nine months for the guilty plea and six months for Tangira’s upbringing—refusing further discounts for remorse or rehabilitation due to Tangira’s prior convictions, particularly for violence.
The judge concluded that Tangira had multiple opportunities to reform his life but failed to do so. He said that while Tangira’s violent background might explain aspects of his behaviour, it could not excuse the severity of the attack.
Justice Venning ended by stating Tangira must have known that the violence inflicted on Singh was “extreme and unacceptable.”