A patched Tribesman gang member yelled at partygoers that a dying man he is accused of shooting was "a nark," witnesses told a jury in the High Court at Auckland yesterday.
Lenin Wayne Lazarus, aged 30, is charged with murdering Shane "Shine" Hohepa at a patching party at Tribesmen headquarters on January 30 this year. Lazarus has pleaded not guilty.
Phillip Hamlin and Anne Kiernan opened the case for the Crown yesterday. Mrs Kiernan said Lazarus held the gun so close to Mr Hohepa's head that the muzzle impression could be seen by a pathologist.
"The reason for the murder was that Lazarus believed Shane Hohepa was a police informer, a nark in their language," Mrs Kiernan said.
After the shooting Lazarus was driven away from the gang pad, she said. He was upset and crying and wanted to hand himself into police, which he did, admitting to other matters for which there were warrants outstanding.
When police ran tests on the .38-calibre pistol Lazarus had led police to, they were unable to fire it accidentally, Mrs Kiernan said.
Several crown witnesses gave evidence, including Anne Hepi, Mr Hohepa's girlfriend.
Renata Marino, a patched Tribesman, said he heard a loud bang about 7 am and saw Hohepa on the ground.
"I heard someone say to leave him, he's a nark," he said. He was not sure who yelled the comments though they were spoken by a male who was standing near the bar.
Amon Campbell, who was also at the party, said he saw two men arguing at the bar not long before the shooting. He then saw a man pulling something out of his back pocket or from under his jacket. He heard a loud bang and a man fell to the ground.
Jai Marino, Tribesman prospect, was working at the bar for much of the all-night party.
After the shot, and seeing "Shine" on the floor, he heard Lazarus yelling. "It was something like, 'Just a nark, just a nark'," he said.
He helped to wrap Mr Hohepa in blankets and take him to a car. When he came back inside, Lazarus had disappeared.
Roger Chambers is acting for Lazarus.
The trial, before Justice Colin Nicholson, continues today.
Crown says slain gang man labelled a nark
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