The man accused of running down Otahuhu father of three Faafetai Lafolua in his car, then dragging him more than 2km through the streets of suburban Auckland to his death, made a brief court appearance yesterday.
A sullen-looking Prestman Vesiputa Tauira, 25, entered no plea to a charge of murderwhen he appeared before Judge David Harvey in Manukau District Court. The sandblaster, of East Tamaki, was remanded in custody to Friday.
He was arrested in South Auckland on Sunday afternoon, less than 48 hours after Mr Lafolua's death after a dispute at a gang shrine in Awa St, Otahuhu.
Mr Lafolua is understood to have been drinking with friends at the shrine erected to Haruru Pekepo, shot dead at the site a month earlier.
Tauira is alleged to have run over Mr Lafolua, then driven off with him still trapped under the vehicle.
It is alleged he dragged Mr Lafolua's body for 2.4km from Awa St on to Great South Rd.
Police said his death was the latest instalment in an ongoing gang turf battle, but friends and relatives of Mr Lafolua played down his alleged involvement with Auckland street gangs.
Counties Manukau police spokeswoman Angeline Barlow said inquiries were continuing.
