Car fragments removed from Rimu St shooting victim's leg: alleged gunmen appear in court

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A Mongrel Mob man wounded during one of the recent gang-related firearms incidents that have Gisborne police on high alert, has been discharged from hospital after bullet and car door fragments were surgically removed from his leg.

Meanwhile, two men accused of shooting him as he sat in his car on Rimu Street on Friday, October 13, appeared in Gisborne District Court yesterday.

Saylem-Sky Ratapu, 18, occupation unknown, and Manasseh Emmanuel Ripia, 27, an acclimatisation field officer, each face two charges arising from the alleged incident — wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and discharging a firearm, namely a 303 rifle, in a manner that would endanger members of the public in Rimu Street.

Ratapu was further charged with having earlier that night attempted to shoot a man in Taruheru Crescent, being in unlawful possession of a firearm — a 303 rifle — and discharging it in such a way that it endangered nearby members of the public.

Judge Warren Cathcart further remanded each of the pair in custody without plea for bail applications tomorrow.  Ratapu’s application will be dealt with during a Young Adults’ list.

The two were arrested after police carried out search warrants in Gisborne last Friday.

Another man, Raani Awarau, 30, fencer, who was suspected of a gang-related firearms incident in Tokomaru Bay on Thursday, October 19, was also taken into custody on Friday, following a search at a Waipiro Bay address.

He also appeared in court yesterday; his case adjourned without pleas for a bail hearing today.

Awarau is charged with being in unlawful possession of a sawn-off shot gun; threatening to damage a house on Waiapu Road, Tokomaru Bay; forcibly hindering a man from his work as a security guard; presenting a firearm (the shotgun) at that man; threatening to injure him; and following him knowing it would likely frighten him.

Police inquiries into the incidents are ongoing.

This case is in its early stages and police have not yet released details about the allegations. Police also asked that the name of the man who was shot not be published at this stage as the investigation is ongoing.