Five defendants on bail and due to appear for a methamphetamine drugs trial in Hamilton yesterday failed to turn up to court, and a police search is under way.
Among them is a pregnant woman about to have her baby and a man who has been eluding police for more
than a year after he failed to turn up to a preliminary hearing in September 2003.
Thirteen people were due in court yesterday but with five of them skipping bail, Justice John Priestley adjourned the trial until next Monday in the hope that police will track them down.
The 13 accused collectively face 117 drug charges, including conspiracy to manufacture and supply methamphetamine, heroin and morphine sulphate, and unlawful possession of firearms and explosives.
An arrest warrant for Graham Neville Winn was issued in September 2003 when he failed to show up for a pre-depositions hearing and police have been searching for him since.
Meanwhile, Peter John Reyland, 37, of Dargaville, failed to report to police last week.
Yesterday, Nadia Rahia McFall, 36, (also known as Moore), Richard Alan McFall, 36, both from Hamilton, and Jamie Ngahina Grace, 24, from Auckland, failed to show up as well.
All of them have been on bail and Ms McFall is heavily pregnant.
Police have said the five could be scattered anywhere in the country and are asking for help in tracking them down.
Anyone with information can call Hamilton police on (07) 858-6200.
