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CHRISTEL YARDLEY / STUFF
The girlfriend of a man shot in a Hamilton home woke up at the hospital, upset by the heartbreaking reality that she faces.
Not only does Kahlee Marfell's five-year-old boyfriend die while protecting her, but one of their childhood friends is seriously ill in intensive care.
It was 1am when Kahlee and Robert Nelson ran into the room to hide. the shooter started shooting. Robert died while he was protecting Kahlee.
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It was only by chance that the three were in the suburbs of Hamilton that night
READ MORE: The police continue their investigations into the deadly shootings of the city. Hamilton man Robert Nelson
the house was "targeted", although the motive for the murder is unclear.
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Robert and Kahlee met as a teenager and they had been together for about five years years.
Erin, 22, was Kahlee's best friend during a time when both were attending school in Fairfield.
Kahlee knew Erin's older brother and, after meeting at a party, had formed a relationship.
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"They had lived the best and the worst together – he had always adored her and always loved her," Erin tells on Monday.
"He's a hero, and he's always been like that – a protector -"
On Saturday night, Robert left his acting internship position at Keystone Bar at the south end of Victoria Street in Hamilton and went to see Kahlee
He regularly stayed at the brick house on a small crescent street of a dozen of houses
but earlier in the evening, Erin said her mother, Dannette .Vrijs, had been trying to convince Robert and Kahlee to stay home.
"They had not seen him for a day or two, "said Erin from their parents." They had to stay home that night, but they ended up staying at Kahlee's. "
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The 17-year-old seriously injured man was a childhood friend of Rob and Kahlee who, by chance, went through there Saturday night.
"He was going to stay with Kahlee from time to time as they were friends, but he had not been around for a while," Erin said.
"He was sort of doing what Robert did, trying to protect Kahlee."
"He is in a bad way."
And all three were caught in the crossfire.
"THE LIFE OF THE PARTY"
Robert was the "guide" to Erin, a family man with a cheeky smile, he never judged people.
"The hardest thing to realize is that it's not there. We have not yet been able to see his body, so it is difficult to get a closure.
"He was a true family man and always put his family first."
The eldest of three children, Robert grew up between Hamilton and Ngāruawāhia. He attended the Forest Lake School before going to Fraser High School.
He made some mistakes early in his life, but he changed his life and trained to become a leader, said Erin.
"He really liked everyone – and that really pushed him to the bottom: he had friends all over the world, and he was a social butterfly."
"He was trying to figure out what he wanted to do."
Robert's father, Peter Nelson, says "proud of his son".
His mother Dannette said, "My son is gone, my life has left me."
"I do not know how we will live without him, but we will try to live for him."
The family had already had a difficult year with the death of their grandfather, whom Robert was close to.
Erin said that her brother had a dream – own house.
He was also a talented Muay Thai fighter, but knowing that he could not make a living, he found a job with Erin with Lawrenson. Group.
Being a hard worker saw him climb the ladder quickly, working in the kitchen at Keystone Restaurant while he was earning his chef skills.
And Lawrenson Group has become a family affair.
With Erin and Robert, their mother works at Victoria Street Bistro and younger brother Koenraad Nelson, 20, at Bluestone Steakhouse.
Erin could not thank the Lawrenson group enough for her support. Thousands of dollars were raised through a Givealittle page set up by spokesperson Aimee Lang.
"The band really loves and cares for him, and has done a lot for us," said Erin. "It was a shock for the entire Lawrenson group as a whole."
It was understood that Matthews Crescent's home was connected to the Mongrel Mob gang.
On Monday afternoon, the shooter remained free
. An autopsy was held Monday in Auckland and the family expects Robert's body to be released soon.
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