A jury has delivered guilty verdicts for three men accused of the brutal Anaru Moana murder, who disappeared in December 2021. Hayden Burt, Aaron Boden, and Cody Boyes were convicted of murder at the High Court in Christchurch, concluding a complex investigation that spanned years and involved extensive searches for the missing victim.
Anaru Moana’s body has never been recovered, a fact that continues to weigh heavily on his family and the ongoing justice process surrounding the Anaru Moana murder. The convictions mark a significant development in the case, which police have pursued relentlessly since Moana was reported missing shortly before Christmas in 2021.
The Motive: A $60,000 Theft and Retaliation Killing
The Crown’s narrative, presented during the lengthy trial, posited that Moana was lured to his death as retribution for a significant theft. Months prior to his disappearance, Moana and an associate allegedly stole methamphetamine and approximately $60,000 in cash from a car belonging to Hayden Burt in Oamaru. This act set in motion a chain of events culminating in the Anaru Moana murder.
Evidence presented suggested that Moana’s associate was brutally attacked by a group including Aaron Boden and Joseph Cropley in September 2021, as a warning related to the drug theft motive. The associate was reportedly beaten, dragged into a car, and left in a gravel pit. This attack served as a precursor to the fatal ambush planned for Moana, a key aspect of the Anaru Moana murder investigation.
Lured to His Death: The Kelceys Bush Ambush
The prosecution detailed how Moana was intentionally drawn to Kelceys Bush, a secluded reserve near Waimate, on the morning of December 20, 2021. Korina Boyes, who had picked Moana up under the guise of walking her dog, drove him to the location. There, Burt and Boden were allegedly lying in wait, ready to carry out the Anaru Moana murder.
The Crown argued that Moana was then shot at while in the tree, causing him to fall. Once on the ground, he was subjected to further assaults, with at least one blow from a blunt object, likely a spade or branch, being described as the fatal injury. The full extent of the violence aimed to make a stark statement to Moana and any others contemplating similar actions against Burt, highlighting the brutality of the Anaru Moana murder.
The Investigation and Christchurch Murder Trial
Anaru Moana was reported missing by his family on December 23, 2021, triggering an extensive police investigation into the Anaru Moana murder. Despite early efforts, including the discovery of Moana’s silver Subaru burned out on State Highway 1, his whereabouts and fate remained unknown for an extended period. The police national dive squad was deployed to search waterways in the Waitaki and Waimate areas as part of the homicide inquiry.
Over time, four individuals were charged in relation to Moana’s murder: Hayden Burt, Aaron Boden, Cody Boyes, and Korina Boyes. A fifth person, Joseph Cropley, also faced charges of kidnapping and injuring with intent. The Christchurch murder trial commenced at the High Court at Christchurch before Justice Christine Gordon, with a jury hearing evidence for several weeks regarding the Anaru Moana murder.
Verdicts and Sentencing in the Criminal Justice Case
After deliberating, the jury unanimously found Hayden Burt, Aaron Boden, and Cody Boyes guilty of murder in this complex criminal justice case. Burt and Boden were also convicted of additional charges of kidnapping and injuring with intent. Korina Boyes was found not guilty of murder and manslaughter but was convicted of injuring with intent. Joseph Cropley was acquitted of all charges, impacting the overall outcome of the Anaru Moana murder investigation.
The conviction of the three men brings a measure of justice to the family of Anaru Moana, though the absence of his remains remains a profound loss. Detective Inspector Joel Syme acknowledged the exhaustive nature of the investigation, spanning multiple police districts and involving specialized units, in pursuing the Anaru Moana murder. He extended gratitude to all involved for their meticulous work and reiterated the police’s ongoing commitment to locating Mr. Moana’s body so his family can lay him to rest.
Sentencing for the convicted individuals is scheduled for December 17. This case underscores the serious consequences of violent crime and the dedication of law enforcement to pursuing justice, even when a victim’s final resting place remains unknown, as in the Anaru Moana murder.
