KEY POINTS:
A judge yesterday banned journalists from reporting any details of the month-long depositions hearing of 18 people charged after last year's anti-terrorist raids.
Judge Mark Perkins acknowledged there was a high degree of public interest but said the interests of holding a fair trial outweighed considerations of open
justice.
A preliminary hearing for 18 people charged with a number of serious firearms offences began in the Auckland District Court this week.
Judge Perkins earlier indicated his reluctance to impose a blanket suppression order, but told the hearing that ensuring any future trial was fair to the accused outweighed the interests of the community in knowing details of the case.
"On balance, I have decided the interests of procuring a fair trial outweigh the interests of the community," he said.
The reason for the secrecy was that some of the evidence that would be presented could later be found to be inadmissible by a trial judge.
One option had been to separate that evidence and issue suppression orders on a case-by-case basis but he decided it would make the depositions hearing even more complicated and lengthy.
"This hearing is going to take long enough as it is and I have no wish to prolong it further."
The hearing began on Monday but has been stalled by the reading of hundreds of charges to the 18 defendants. Some of the charges have had to be translated into Maori and there have been several adjournments while up-to-date information on the charges has been given to lawyers.
Judge Perkins said it was difficult for him to know what to expect from the evidence before it was presented but there was a clear danger to a fair trial if information was widely reported and later ruled inadmissible.
THE CHARGES
1. EMILY FELICITY BAILEY
30 charges under the Arms Act including possession of a rifle, possession of a pistol, possession of a shotgun, possession of restricted weapon - molotov cocktail.
2. IRA TIMOTHY BAILEY
11 charges under the Arms Act including possession of a rifle, possession of a shotgun, possession of restricted weapon - molotov cocktail.
3. RONGOMAI PEROPERO BAILEY
Four charges under the Arms Act including possession of a restricted weapon - molotov cocktail, possession of a rifle, possession of a firearm.
4. OMAR HAMED
31 charges under the Arms Act including possession of a rifle, possession of a firearm, possession of a pistol, possession of a sawn-off shotgun, possession of restricted weapons - molotov cocktail.
5. RAWIRI ITI
27 charges under the Arms Act including possession of a shotgun, possession of a rifle, possession of a pistol, possession of a restricted weapon - molotov cocktail.
6. TAME ITI
38 charges under the Arms Act including possession of a rifle, possession of a shotgun, possession of a pistol, possession of a restricted weapon - molotov cocktail.
7. WHIRI ANDREW KEMARA
29 charges under the Arms Act including possession of a rifle, possession of a firearm, possession of a pistol.
8. TUHOE FRANCIS LAMBERT
12 charges under the Arms Act including possession of a firearm, possession of a pistol, possession of a rifle, possession of restricted weapon - molotov cocktail.
9. JAMIE BEATTIE LOCKETT
15 charges under the Arms Act including possession of a firearm, possession of a rifle, possession of a sawn-off shotgun.
10. MARAMA HANNAH MAYRICK
13 charges under the Arms Act including possession of a pistol, possession of a firearm, possession of a rifle and possession of a restricted weapon - molotov cocktail.
11. WATENE PAUL McCLUTCHIE
33 charges under the Arms Act including possession of a rifle, possession of a restricted weapon - molotov cocktail, possession of a sawn-off shotgun, possession of a firearm.
12. VALERIE MORSE
12 charges under the Arms Act including possession of a rifle, possession of restricted weapon - molotov cocktail, possession of a shotgun and possession of ammunition.
13. TRUDI PARAHA
17 charges under the Arms Act including possession of a rifle, possession of a restricted weapon - molotov cocktail, possession of a shotgun, possession of a pistol and possession of a firearm.
14. URS PETER SIGNER
22 charges under the Arms Act including possession of a rifle, possession of a restricted weapon - molotov cocktail, possession of a pistol and possession of a shotgun.
15. PHILLIP PUREWA
16 charges under the Arms Act including possession of a rifle, possession of a restricted weapon - molotov cocktail and possession of a pistol.
16. NAME SUPPRESSED
Eight charges under the Arms Act including possession of a rifle, possession of a pistol and possession of ammunition.
17. MOANA HEMI WINITANA
Nine charges under the Arms Act including possession of a rifle and possession of a sawn-off shotgun.
18. TEKAUMARUA WHAREPOURI
Six charges under the Arms Act including possession of a rifle and possession of a double-barrell shotgun.