A lady has described the horrifying moment when an apparently innocent Facebook message caused her to become involved in a risky love triangle.
On the South Island of New Zealand, Missy Parata was residing in Karitane when she got a message from Krishan Ranui Dick-Karetai.
She had dedicated her time to enhancing the neighbourhood by tidying up the nearby cemetery and establishing a vegetable garden.
Dick-Karetai messaged Ms. Parata to express his desire to relocate to the adjacent town of Dunedin and his interest in getting involved in environmental projects.
Over the course of seven months, Dick-Karetai repeatedly texted Ms. Parata, unexpectedly dropped by her place of employment, and sent her recordings threatening to hurt herself.
On October 15, 2021, he shot her partner Hemi Tahuri after going to confront Ms. Parata at her home with a loaded.22 rifle.
In June 2022, Dick-Karetai was sentenced to six years and eleven months in prison for attempting to murder someone.
When Ms. Pararta was taking a break from her longtime partner Mr. Tehuri, she claimed to have received the Facebook message from Dick-Karetai.
The Otago Daily Times later published Ms. Parata’s denial that she and Dick-Karetai were dating, despite the court’s knowledge of their brief relationship.
She stated that Dick-Karetai had gaslighted and used her, and that she had only become close to him out of concern for her “protection.”
She told the NZ Herald, “I didn’t want to go and tell people about him and what he’s doing to me if it’s all in my head.”
He kind of made me feel like it was all my fault, so I didn’t want to tarnish his reputation.
She claimed she forewarned Dick-Karetai against relocating to Dunedin since he would be bringing his dog, something few landlords permit.
Ms. Parata claimed that Dick-Karetai informed her two weeks later that he had shot his sick dog in the head.
She insisted that multiple “red flags” were raised and that her “whole radar went off.”
After resuming her engagement with Mr. Tehuri, Ms. Parata alleged that Dick-Karetai had continued to pursue her.
He once accompanied Ms. Parata and Mr. Tahuri to a funeral at Ashburton, which is located more than 240 kilometres north of Karitane.
He was phoning when I checked my phone, she said.
I replied, to which he replied, “I’m in Ashburton right now. I’m gazing at a vehicle that resembles yours.
I just saw someone enter it. Is that you, then?
On the day of the shooting, Ms. Parata stated that Dick-Karetai had sent her 33 calls and 35 texts pleading with her to break off her engagement to Mr. Tahuri.
Then, Dick-Karetai arrived to her residence, honked his car horn to get Ms. Parata to leave, and approached the front door with a loaded.22 rifle.
According to a court summary, “the defendant raised the handgun and fired a single shot through the glass door striking the victim in the head.”
Despite being given a 1% chance of survival, Mr. Tehuri has managed to recuperate after the bullet missed his major arteries by a mere 1mm.