Accused wanted gunman on call in caravan, jury hears

One of the men accused of being involved in a spate of robberies - which culminated in two murders - wanted to set up Ese Junior Falealii in a caravan so the gunman could be called on whenever he was needed, a witness told a jury in the High Court at Auckland yesterday.

Martin Langkilde, giving evidence for the Crown against his best friend, Joseph Sam Samoa, told of discussions involving 10 robberies, some before the raids, others afterwards.

The jury has heard evidence of 12 robberies, which ended in the deaths of pizza worker Marcus Doig and bank teller John Vaughan.

Samoa, 28, of Mangere, and William Logan Johansson, 27, of Otara, are accused of being involved in the murder of Mr Doig and the attempted murder of the pizza parlour owner, John Wilfred Bell.

They also are accused, with Pago Savaiinaea, 27, of Otara, of the murder of Mr Vaughan a week later.

Samoa faces five charges of aggravated robbery, having pleaded guilty to four others at the start of the trial and another during it, including the robbery of the pizza parlour.

Johansson faces 12 aggravated robbery charges, Savaiinaea three, and Kenneth Edward Kitiseni, 33, of Manurewa, faces three aggravated robbery counts.

Mr Langkilde said Samoa told him after a furniture store robbery that Falealii had been recruited.

"He told me that he picked up a young guy by the name of Ese and got him to go into the furniture shop and rob it.

"He said that the owner was taking too long and Ese got pissed off and shot the till, and just ran out and took off."

Samoa had said he was involved with Johansson and Falealii in the robbery of Otahuhu's Casino Bar.

"Joe said this guy has got balls, he doesn't give a damn," Mr Langkilde said. "I remember him saying they were going to set him up in a caravan to live there and whenever they needed him, just go and get him. They were just using him."

Mr Langkilde said he also spoke to Johansson about Falealii.

Johansson had said he removed the bullets from the gun before Falealii did the Casino Bar robbery.

"He wanted to see if he [Falealii] was trigger happy, to see if he was crazy enough to fire the gun again."

Mr Langkilde said he told Samoa and Johansson on different occasions that they were mad.

Most of the discussions took place during weight-training sessions at Samoa's place.

Mr Langkilde said three days after the pizza company robbery, the subject of the robbery and murder arose between him and Samoa.

Samoa "pretty much straight up told me, 'I'm going to Hell'."

Samoa allegedly said he told Falealii to rob the pizza parlour while he waited in the car.

"He said that Ese was pissed off because he [Mr Bell] was taking his time and he shot the young guy."

He said Samoa told him that "Ese promised to take the rap if anything like that happened."

Despite laughing and joking, Samoa appeared worried.

On the day after the ASB killing, Mr Langkilde said that he spoke to Samoa on the phone.

Mr Vaughan's murder was news.

Samoa allegedly said: "The idiot did it again."

Mr Langkilde said that Samoa and Johansson had shown him guns " ... like showing off a toy".

- NZPA