In a major development, 28-year-old Lorenzo Tangira has pleaded guilty to the brutal killing of 25-year-old Ramandeep Singh, a security guard originally from Gurdaspur, Punjab.
Singh was assaulted in December 2023 so severely that his jaw was broken and he sustained significant brain damage due to multiple skull fractures.
Following the incident, Auckland’s Indian community had stepped up in solidarity — a gesture Singh’s family said brought deep comfort in their darkest hour.
Now, over a year later, his family in Punjab has found a measure of solace after Tangira’s guilty plea, which they say brings a renewed sense of justice.
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Ramandeep Sing/Photo: Supplied
Tangira entered the plea at the High Court in Auckland on 23 June 2025, avoiding a scheduled three-week trial. According to The New Zealand Herald, the plea was made before Justice Geoffrey Venning. Tangira’s teenage companion in the attack had earlier been deemed unfit to stand trial following a court hearing in April.
Soon after the incident, members of the diaspora had come together to ensure Singh’s remains were repatriated to his hometown to Kotli shahpur, Gurdaspur, for the final rites — a gesture that resonated deeply with the grieving family.
Anil Rai, a New Zealand-based social worker who also hails from Gurdaspur, played a key role in the repatriation process.
“With the help of then Honorary Consul General of India, Bhav Dhillon, and a few of Ramandeep’s friends, the remains were safely sent to the family for last rites on 23 December 2023,” Rai told The Indian Weekender.
Anil Rai/Photo: Supplied
He said the case had deeply shocked the community.
“Everyone came together to support the family in every possible way from New Zealand,” he shared.
Despite the involvement of multiple agencies and processes — including post-mortem examinations and police investigations — Rai said the repatriation was treated as a priority and handled swiftly.
“Ramandeep’s family was satisfied with the judgement, but they also wish that the teenager involved in the incident should also be punished,” he added.
In 2023, a Givealittle fundraiser also raised over NZD $18,000 to support Singh’s family.
Singh had moved to Auckland in 2018 to pursue higher education and was employed by Armourguard as a security guard. On the night of December 17, 2023, while performing his routine duty of locking the car park gate at Massey’s Royal Reserve, he was attacked and killed.
According to court documents cited by The Herald, Tangira had been drinking at home before heading to the park, around 200 metres away, with the teenager. An altercation first broke out between Singh and the teen, and Tangira soon joined in. He reportedly grabbed Singh by his high-visibility vest, swung him around, and repeatedly punched him in the face.
Singh, who weighed just 46kg, tried to flee to his vehicle. The teenager allegedly jumped onto the bonnet, while Tangira’s hand became trapped in the car door. Singh was then pulled from the vehicle and the attack continued with further punches, kicks, and stomping.
A post-mortem examination revealed Singh had suffered a broken jaw, missing teeth, multiple fractures to the skull and face, and significant brain trauma. Footwear impressions on his body indicated repeated blows to his face, neck, and throat.
By the time police arrived, the attackers had fled and Singh had already died. His body was found partially unclothed in bushes near his vehicle, which was blood-stained, dented, and had a shattered windscreen. His phone and bag were also missing.
Singh’s family attended the court proceedings via video link from India. Tangira’s sentencing has been scheduled for next month.
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