Witness can't recall statement

A Whangarei man allegedly confronted by a father and son and accused of being a "nark" on another family member to police told a jury he didn't even remember giving a statement to detectives.

Mark Nathan was grilled by defence lawyers in the Whangarei District Court yesterday in the case of Selwyn Paikea, 56, and his son Haupapa James Paikea, 28, who have denied one charge of kidnapping and another of use of a firearm.

Selwyn Paikea faces an additional charge of threatening to cause grievous bodily harm.

The charges stem from an incident in Onerahi last year in which a shotgun ended up being fired at the home of an elderly couple, as police say Mr Nathan struggled to wrestle the gun off Selwyn Paikea.

In court yesterday, Mr Nathan told Crown prosecutor Nicole Dore that he didn't remember telling Detective Waihanui Reihana at 8.30pm on September 5, 2012 that the Paikeas came around the house he was living in.

He also said he could not remember anything about a police statement or signing any of the pages.

Selwyn Paikea's lawyer Richard Garbett asked him about a beating he received at the hands of three people in Kamo that landed him in hospital. Mr Nathan said he didn't remember that either.

Kelly Ellis, representing Haupapa Paikea, asked whether he was a man of his word and could look at the jury and tell the truth.

Mr Nathan put his head down briefly before responding: "I don't really know."

Ms Ellis claimed Mr Nathan was trying to protect the guys who beat him up in Kamo, about a week after rumours started surfacing that the latter informed police that led to Selwyn Paikea's wife being arrested in relation to cannabis.

The Paikeas also accused him of stealing cannabis from them.

Mr Nathan said he'd been beaten up a few times and could not recall every single incident.

He denied suggestions by Ms Ellis that he received benefits from police in return for lying.

In re-examination, he said his relationship with the Paikeas was good but said he couldn't remember when asked if problems started after rumours of him "narking" started.

Judge Phil Gittos read an excerpt from his police statement where Mr Nathan spoke about being knocked out by three people in Kamo but he didn't make a complaint to police. Mr Nathan again replied that he didn't remember.

The trial continues.