A senior Palmerston North Black Power member yesterday received 14 years in prison for his part in a raft of violent offences, including the shooting of the Mongrel Mob's acting president.
Brian Paul Taylor, 33, appeared in the High Court at Palmerston North for sentence on 10 charges, including aggravated robbery, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, causing grievous bodily harm and participating in an organised criminal gang.
He also faced charges of assault, demanding with menaces and possessing firearms.
The wounding with intent charge was laid after Taylor confessed to lying in wait for a man who was investigating the "taxing" of his car.
Taylor hid in the upstairs bedroom of a Pembroke Street house armed with a .22 calibre rifle fitted with a telescopic sight. He opened fire on the man, wounding him in the leg, as he approached. He also fired at least one round through the man's car as he fled.
Justice Wild imposed a six-year sentence for that charge.
Taylor received a cumulative six years in prison for aggravated robbery after he broke into the house of a Mongrel Mob member, beat him and stole his leather jacket and Mob patch.
A concurrent term of six years was imposed for Taylor's part in the February 2003 shooting of then-acting Mongrel Mob president Sovite Sua.
Taylor and associates had gone to Mr Sua's house in the early hours of February 5, intent on avenging the death of Black Power affiliate Wallace Whatuira, 16, a year earlier.
After luring Mr Sua out of the house, the group shot him once in the thigh. A second shot missed its target, but went through the wall of the house.
A third, cumulative term of two years was added for unlawful possession of a firearm.
Taylor also received concurrent terms totalling six-and-a-half years on other firearms possession charges, assault, demanding with menaces and participating in an organised criminal gang.
Crown prosecutor Charlotte Patterson said most of Taylor's offending fell at the more serious end of its type, and was in many cases compounded by the fact that it was carried out with firearms, or was gang-related.
Justice Wild, in sentencing, quoted probation reports that described Taylor as "a sad, depressed man with suicidal tendencies".
"Looking at what you have achieved in your 33 years in this world, I am not surprised you are depressed about yourself."
However, he refused to follow a Crown recommendation of a minimum non-parole period.
"Somewhere, despite all this offending, I see some prospect of rehabilitation . . . some prospect that you will put your criminal offending behind you and start living a worthwhile and constructive life."
The total term is cumulative to a prison sentence -- believed to be about three years Taylor is already serving.
- NZPA
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