Appeal granted for Urewera group

Tuhoe activist Tama Iti is one of three accused who have requested Te reo interpreters for trial. Photo / Ben Fraser

The 15 people charged after police raids in the Urewera Ranges and elsewhere in October 2007 have been granted leave to appeal High Court and Appeal Court decisions that a judge alone hear their trial.

The Supreme Court released its ruling today allowing the group to argue for a trial by jury, which will be heard in the Supreme Court.

The court suppressed any reporting of the arguments made in the two-day hearing held in Wellington, which finished on Wednesday.

The first trial of the 15 people accused of various charges, including having arms and taking part in an organised criminal group, was due to be held before a judge alone at the High Court in Auckland on May 30.

The trial was expected to last up to three months.

Three of the accused, including Tuhoe activist Tama Iti, have requested Te Reo interpreters for the trial.

Charges were initially laid under the Terrorism Suppression Act but Solicitor-General David Collings ruled against charges continuing under that legislation.

The accused now face firearms charges and five of them face charges of participating in an organised criminal group.

- NZPA