Getaway driver for robbery’s jail sentence cut

• Published date: 21 April 2021
• Author: Imran Ali
• Date: 21 April 2021

Junior Mau appealed his sentence of five years and four months, imposed in the Whangārei District Court following a guilty plea to one charge of aggravated robbery, saying it was manifestly excessive given his level of involvement in the heist.

He argued that the sentencing judge adopted a starting point of seven years which was high, and did not allow adequate discount to reflect his personal circumstances and cultural background.

The Court of Appeal agreed, reducing his jail sentence to three years and eight months.

Mau, 28, agreed to be the getaway driver for his half-brother and another person who robbed the ANZ Bank in central Whangārei of $9360 on March 22, 2018, armed with a sawn-off shotgun.

His sick 2-year-old daughter was in the car when Mau, who was a disqualified driver at the time, drove both men to Cafler Park and waited for their return following the robbery.

Mau had taken time off work that day to look after his daughter when he was asked to drive for the men.

In sentencing Mau, Judge Keith de Ridder adopted the same starting point as that of Mau’s half-brother as he treated both as being equally culpable of the crime.

The judge followed the guideline case of the Court of Appeal, known as R v Mako, with the court saying getaway drivers...