Key witness gives evidence in trial

A key witness has given evidence in court about a "revenge" stabbing.

The stepdaughter of one of the men accused of murdering a 19-year-old Tauranga man told her mother she had been assaulted by the deceased at a party and attacked by another partygoer.

Paris Taite, 21, gave evidence in the High Court in Tauranga yesterday.

Her stepfather Hiakita Hori Eruera, mother Hyacin Eruera and their associate Paul William Taki are defending one count each of murder, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and assault with a weapon.

The murder charge relates to the stabbing of Takena Tiepa-Ranapia whose body was found outside a house in Mansfield St, Ohauiti on November 30 last year, a few doors down from the party.

The latter charges relate to Brooklyn Ormsby-Ratahi and Guy Wikeepa being assaulted on Ohauiti Rd earlier that morning.

Ms Taite, the deceased, his brother Reginald Tiepa, and the other assault victims had all been at the same party in Mansfield St. Reginald Tiepa was Ms Taite's former partner and after exchanging a series of Facebook messages earlier in the day, the pair ended up at his cousin's 21st birthday celebrations.

An intoxicated Ms Taite, enraged after learning Reginald Tiepa had a new girlfriend, tried to "hook up" with Mr Ormsby-Ratahi, which angered the deceased, the jury heard.

The deceased and Ms Taite got into a brief scuffle, after which she left the party and headed to her cousin's house trying to get a ride home.

While walking up Mansfield Rd, she realised two men were following her. Fearful for her safety, she ran off and flagged down a taxi telling the driver she had been attacked.

In evidence yesterday, Ms Taite said that when she got home she told her mother that the deceased had hit her at the party, and Mr Wikeepa had also attacked her. Ms Taite said she did not know why she made these allegations.

"I was drunk, angry and very upset," she said.

The Crown says this sparked a "revenge mission" by Eruera, aided by Taki, and his wife who drove them to the party. She was also present when the other two young men were assaulted.

Taki is accused of attacking Mr Wikeepa with a metal bar and Eruera with stabbing Mr Ormsby-Ratahi with a knife in Ohauiti Rd. The Crown says the accused then drove on to the party, where Eruera, wearing his Mongrel Mob vest, allegedly stabbed the deceased in the left side of neck.

Ms Taite said when she learned Takena had been fatally stabbed, she asked her mother whether her stepfather stabbed him, to which her mother replied she thought he might have.

Reginald Tiepa said when he left the party, the deceased remained behind and the party mood had been good. He only learned of his "little brother's death" the next day from his cousin. During cross examination by Hiakita Eruera's lawyer Russell Fairbrother QC, the witness denied any animosity toward the accused or being a member of any gang.

The trial continues today.