Salesman Michael John Hayes appears In the Whangarei District Court on charges of supplying firearms to gunman Quinn Patterson. 28 August 2017 Northern Advocate Photograph by John Stone NAG 2
Salesman Michael John Hayes appears In the Whangarei District Court on charges of supplying firearms to gunman Quinn Patterson. 28 August 2017 Northern Advocate Photograph by John Stone NAG 2
A salesman who pleaded not guilty to charges of supplying military style semi-automatic firearms to Whangarei double-murderer Quinn Patterson has been further remanded on bail.
Michael John Hayes, 61, a salesman of Maunu, reappeared in the Whangarei District Court yesterday for a case review.
Hayes is facing three charges ofsupplying a military style semi-automatic (MSSA) to an unlicensed person, three of supplying firearms to an unlicensed person, and another three of unlicensed possession of those weapons and a pistol grip.
The firearms he allegedly supplied included a Mossburg 12-gauge shotgun, a Gevarm .22 calibre rifle, an AK47 replica semi-automatic rifle, a Saiga 12-gauge shotgun and a 7.62 calibre rifle with various magazines.
The alleged offences took place between March 1 and May 1 this year at a rural property near Whangarei.
Hayes has elected a jury trial and will reappear for a callover on January 26, 2018.
Police laid the charges under the Arms Act 1983. The charge of unlawful possession of a MSSA carries a maximum penalty of three years or a fine of $4000. Charges of supplying each carry a three-month jail term or a $1000 fine.
An investigation into circumstances that led to the deaths of Wendy Campbell and her daughter, Natanya, and Patterson's history, is ongoing.
Patterson, who did not have a firearms licence, fatally shot the women at his rented property on Mt Tiger Rd in July while they were on a property inspection. Contractor Jeff Pipe was also shot but managed to escape.
