Witness tells of fatal attack

Three of the five accused murdering Craig Rippon in November 2015 -- Mathew Thomas Madams, Kevin Roy Madams, and Tyrone Peter Madams.

A witness has described the minutes leading up to the attack that killed Black Power president Craig Rippon.

The witness visited the Rimu St property in Gonville where Mr Rippon was attacked on November 8.

As he walked out the door to leave he saw a group of men get out of their vehicle and approach the house.

"I saw five big guys jump out," he said.

At that point the group started breaking windows.

"There was smashing and screaming," he told the High Court in Whanganui yesterday.
He saw Mr Rippon leave the house and approach the group with a shovel in hand.

He then heard what he described as a pole striking Mr Rippon.

"I looked back and he was on the ground.

"[I was] pretty scared and I ran home," he said.

Tyrone Peter Madams, Matthew Thomas Madams, Kevin Roy Madams, and two youths are charged with the murder of Mr Rippon, 57, and with participating in a criminal organisation.

They have denied the charges.

In June, Tyrone William Madams pleaded guilty to Mr Rippon's murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment.