Rakai Thompson was sentenced to five years in prison on March 10, 2026, for the 2024 manslaughter of 17-year-old Te Omeka Pairama Akariri-Buckley after a stabbing during a failed sheep theft.

Rakai Jacob Thompson, 26, was sentenced to five years in prison for the 2024 manslaughter of 17-year-old Te Omeka Pairama Akariri-Buckley, who died after being stabbed during a confrontation at Thompson’s Waitara home following a failed sheep theft. The incident, which occurred on July 30, 2024, escalated after tensions rose among friends, resulting in Thompson stabbing Akariri-Buckley twice with a 25cm knife. Though acquitted of murder, the court heard emotional impact statements from family and friends who described him as a talented, kind, and passionate young man with a bright future. The Crown sought a harsher sentence citing premeditation and weapon use, but Thompson’s early guilty plea, remorse, and willingness to engage in restorative justice were considered. The sentence was handed down on March 10, 2026.