Five Black Power gang members have admitted their involvement in an armed confrontation with members of the Mongrel Mob at Pine Hill six months ago.
Albert Victor Epere (45), Poutokomanawa Bubba Matiu Hapi (19), Michael William Kushell (20), Daniel Moana Ryan (46), and Danea Clive Angus Witehira (42) were all initially charged with unlawful assembly after the incident, which began about 4.30pm on September 25. They were expected to stand trial later this year.
But in the Dunedin District Court yesterday, the five accepted a Crown offer of a reduced charge under the Summary Offences Act. They all admitted behaving in a threatening manner likely to cause violence and were remanded for sentence on May 7.
Crown counsel Robin Bates said no evidence would be offered by the Crown on the unlawful assembly charge and all five offenders were discharged by Judge Michael Crosbie on that charge.
Epere, Ryan and Witehira were remanded at large. Hapi, a sentenced prisoner, was remanded in custody, as was Kushell, who is in custody on remand in Mount Eden prison and whose guilty plea was entered by his lawyer, Max Winders.
The brief summary from Mr Bates said the confrontation happened after a car containing Mongrel Mob members and associates drove past the home of Black Power Chapter president Epere in Pine Hill Rd. A gun was seen poking out the car window and pointing towards the house.
The car continued into Allenby Ave and stopped outside a property where members of the Mongrel Mob lived. The five Black Power members drove to the same area in their Falcon and all five got out.
Members of both gangs produced weapons and an armed confrontation started. During the next 20 minutes, police received numerous 111 emergency calls about gang members carrying weapons and one used an axe to smash the windows of a white Subaru. Members of the public reported hearing gunshots and seeing a person carrying a gun.
About 5pm, Epere arrived at the Dunedin Public Hospital Emergency Department, saying he had been shot. Hospital staff found a gunshot wound in his right arm, apparently caused by a small-calibre bullet.
Armed police then cordoned off the hospital and, after police inquiries, the five defendants were arrested.
Epere declined to provide details about how he had been shot. Kushell claimed he was not present, and, apart from Hapi, who admitted the facts, the others declined to comment.
