Kawerau Mongrel Mob member Quentin Duane Pukeroa has been found guilty of the murder of 16-year-old Jordan Herewinin at Murupara in January last year.
After deliberating for 15 and a half hours a jury in the High Court at Rotorua today also found Pukeroa, 32, guilty of attempting to murder Iwi Delamere and two counts of aggravated burglary.
He was found guilty of participating in a criminal group, the Mongrel Mob, knowing it may have contributed to criminal activity. However, that verdict was not unanimous with 11 of the 12 jurors favouring it. The charge related to a period between January 27 and February 4, 2009 at Murupara and Kawerau. Pukeroa was remanded in custody for sentencing on December 10.
Justice Edwin Wylie directed the jury that they were not required to reach a verdict against Massey Ngaheu, 37, on the criminal participation charge and remanded him until December 9 for callover when a new trial date will be allocated. His remand is in custody but a bail application will be heard at a date to be set.
The jury were unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the criminal group charge relating to Clayton Fox, 34. He too has been remanded to the December 9 callover date. That remand is in custody but like Ngaheu he will have a bail application considered.
The fourth accused, Terry John Faataape, 40, was found guilty of the criminal group matter but unanimous verdicts could not be reached on charges of unlawfully possessing a shotgun on February 2, 2009, and possessing offensive weapons on February 17 that year.
He has been remanded in custody for sentencing on December 10 on the criminal group charge. A pre-sentence report has been requested to include his possible release on home detention.
Justice Wylie thanked the jurors for providing "sterling service" over four and a half weeks and excused them from further jury service for four years. He said their attention to a difficult trial had been responsible and diligent.
He also congratulated counsel involved in the trial for the sensible, pragmatic and balanced fashion in which it had been conducted, saying he wished all trials ran in the same fashion.
He asked that his comments be passed to counsel who acted for four other accused - three of whom have since pleaded guilty to the criminal group charge. They are Lynette Victoria Teddy, Jason Kirk Iopata and William Te Paire Aramoana. They will also be sentenced on December 10.
Kingi Morgan Gemmell was discharged on this count.
Outside the court the officer in charge of the case, Detective Sergeant John Wilson, said the verdicts meant Murupara could now begin the healing process.
