Murder accused Hayden Wallace hung out a car window and fired at two men in front of the house where Jhia Harmony Te Tua was killed, a Mongrel Mob prospect told the High Court at Wellington today.
Shane Roberts, whose name suppression was lifted today, gave evidence via video link at the trial of seven men charged over the murder of two-year-old Jhia.
She died on May 5 last year after being struck by a shot fired into her parents' home in the Wanganui suburb of Gonville.
On trial accused of her murder are Hayden John Wallace, 27, Karl Unuka Check, 26, Ranji Tane Forbes, 21, Godfrey Thomas Muraahi, 27, Erueti Chase Nahona, 20, and Richard Anthony Puohotaua, 28.
Luke John Check, 24, is accused of being an accessory to murder after the fact.
All have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Mr Roberts was Karl Check's prospect from November 2006. They had known each other since Check was in high school.
On the day Jhia was killed, Mr Roberts had been with Check and several other Mongrel Mob members and associates at a rugby league game when a scuffle broke out between Mob and Black Power members.
At the league team's after-match function outside the Castlecliff Hotel later that day Mr Roberts ran into Check and several of the other accused and was told to drive them because they were drunk.
As they passed the Te Tua family house, where 20 to 30 Black Power associates were congregated, Check grabbed the wheel and tried to steer towards them, running up the kerb and hitting a power pole, Mr Roberts told the court.
A brick was thrown at Check's car and lodged in the windscreen,
Mr Roberts said Check pulled the brick through the glass, "even though he was cutting his fingers".
As they drove away Check was swearing and "getting quite aggressive".
Mr Roberts said Wallace, who was also "prospecting" had told Check, "I'll make them pay, I'll get them for you."
Mr Roberts said he drove one of three cars which later returned to the Te Tua home.
As he rounded a corner near the house, Mr Roberts heard two gunshots.
Mr Roberts said when he reached the address he saw Wallace hanging out the window of Forbes' car which was parked at the side of the road, firing a rifle at two men who emerged from the property, forcing them to dive for cover.
Afterwards, at an associate's house, someone asked "Who did it?"
Mr Roberts said Wallace replied "It was me" .
Wallace was then asked if he had "shot a two-year-old baby", as word was spreading about Jhia's death.
Later that night at "the pad" on Queen Street Mr Roberts said he approached Wallace and asked why he brought a gun to the house.
"To shoot the niggers," Wallace replied.
Mr Roberts said after the shooting people were giving Wallace Mongrel Mob salutes and talking about how he should be patched.
Mr Roberts' evidence will continue on Friday morning.
