Christopher Salt sentenced for Auckland bar murder
A man named Christopher Salt has been sentenced to prison for the murder of Tofi Matagi in an Auckland bar. Tofi Matagi's family shared their pain in court, describing him as a talented musician with a joyful spirit. His father expressed regret over not teaching his son to be wary of strangers. The incident occurred on August 31, 2023, at Richardson’s Bar and Restaurant in Mt Roskill. CCTV footage showed Salt attacking Matagi unexpectedly, starting with a punch that knocked him down. Salt then kicked Matagi in the face and stomped on his head multiple times. During his trial, Salt claimed he acted in self-defense. However, the jury found him guilty of murder. Today, Justice Michael Robinson firmly stated that Salt’s actions were not an act of self-defense, describing his attack on Matagi as completely unreasonable.