Killer used rifle for earlier drug robbery

Navtej Singh with his wife Harjinder Kaur. Photo / Supplied

Anitelea Chan Kee used the same rifle he killed liquor store owner Navtej Singh with during an aggravated robbery of a tinnie house a day before the fatal shooting.

Chan Kee, 21, his brother, Ameto Chan Kee, 24, and their friend Misiona Tia robbed the house in Randwick Park, Manurewa, of drugs and a brown jacket, believing it contained cash, during the early hours of June 6, 2008.

The next day, Chan Kee shot Mr Singh during an aggravated robbery of his Riverton Liquor Store, also in Manurewa. He was found guilty this month of murder and will be sentenced next month.

Last year, he admitted aggravated robbery of the tinnie house.

Ameto Chan Kee and Tia last week pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery before their trial began in the High Court at Auckland. They will be sentenced in June.

Court documents said that at 7pm on June 5, 2008, the three men began drinking in the garage at 5 Giani Court - the same location Chan Kee hatched his plan to rob Mr Singh's liquor store.

At 11pm Tia and two others decided they wanted cannabis to smoke and he went to the Randwick Park address to buy a tinnie (a package of about a gram of cannabis wrapped in tin foil).

When Tia returned to Giani Court, they continued drinking and smoking the just-purchased cannabis.

Anitelea Chan Kee went outside and got the rifle. They began talking about returning to the tinnie house to steal drugs and cash.

Sometime between midnight and 1am, the trio drove to the tinnie house. Ameto stayed in the car while Anitelea and Tia walked up the long driveway.

Anitelea pointed the loaded rifle at the occupants, demanding drugs and cash, while Tia took several tinnies and the brown jacket.

When they were questioned by police, Anitelea Chan Kee said his brother had gone into the house with him.

Ameto Chan Kee denied that, but admitted he knew there was a loaded firearm and they were going into the house to rob it.

Tia denied any involvement and said he was at home with his family.