15-year-old on murder charge

A 15-year-old youth is one of three people charged with murdering a 16-year-old schoolboy after a violent confrontation at a South Auckland party.

Jordan Adams died after being repeatedly bludgeoned about the head when he tried to flee to the safety of his mother's car.

Prosecutor Brian Dickey told a jury at the High Court in Auckland yesterday that it was an "armed pack reprisal attack".

The 15-year-old, who was 14 at the time of the brawl in Lippiatt Rd, Otahuhu, last September, has name suppression. His co-accused are Michael Ofakineiafu, 21, and Teingoa Turaki, 19, all of Onehunga.

Ofakineiafu faces an alternative charge of injuring Mr Adams with intent to injure.

Mr Dickey told the jury the accused were associated with the Onehunga Central Styles gang or "crew" and others at the party were connected with the Otara-based Crown Crescent Boyz.

During the party tensions rose and a young Otara woman left after being assaulted.

Mr Dickey said Mr Adams' group instigated problems at the party, though the dead man was not involved in any trouble. Others connected with the CCBs were also sent packing after a minor set-to.

Mr Dickey said they went to Otara and a larger group was mobilised to return to the party armed with weapons including baseball bats.

Jordan Adams was among this group who Mr Dickey said were "looking to cause some trouble".

But Mr Dickey said the Otara boys were quickly outnumbered after being rushed by the partygoers, who had armed themselves. Mr Adams had a tyre iron but did not assault anyone.

The Otara group fled up the road and most got into a van. But Mr Adams ran to his mother's car.

As he tried to unlock the door he was hit on the head by a piece of wood, which the Crown says was wielded by Ofakineiafu.

He tripped or fell to the ground and was then allegedly subjected to a serious bashing by the other two. He received at least five skull fractures.

Turaki was said to have hit the defenceless man with considerable force a number of times with a heavy bit of wood.

And the 14-year-old was said to have struck Mr Adams with extreme force with a steering wheel lock, causing a "massive" skull fracture.

"The beating could hardly have been more severe," Mr Dickey said.

Mr Adams died seven days later in hospital when his life support was turned off.

Lester Cordwell, representing Ofakineiafu, said his client struck out in self-defence because he believed he was about to be hit by Jordan Adams, who was armed with a weapon.

That blow did not contribute to Mr Adams' death and his client did not encourage, help or take part in the subsequent bashing.