Lake Rotoiti shootout - they were a 'pussy army'

The man targeted in a pitched battle at his lakeside home north of Rotorua in 2008 told a lawyer in the High Court at Rotorua yesterday that his attackers were "Girl Guides".

Alec Tuhoro also called his opponents a "pussy army" and added it felt good to take them out, adding he did it with just a four-wheel-drive and "a good clear head".

Mr Tuhoro was testifying on the second day of the trial of three men charged with trying to murder him.

Shane Epapara, 23, Daniel Pirret, 27 and Michael Mihaka, 22, are alternatively charged with discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Hareopa (Harry) Katene, 47, and his son Eria, 23, pleaded guilty to the firearms charge when the trial began on Wednesday. The attempted murder charge against them was dropped.

Cross-examined yesterday by Epapara's lawyer Craig Horsley, Mr Tuhoro agreed three groups of shots had been fired when Harry Katene, his brother-in-law, and others arrived on his property at Hauparu Bay on September 27, 2008.

The first was when Harry Katene's vehicle approached his, the second when he rammed Katene's truck and the third after Katene had run off.

"I saw the gun coming over the fence ... A few more random shots were fired."

Mr Tuhoro said it felt pretty good to "take out the pussy army".

Asked what he meant by that, he responded, "Girl Guides".

He explained further: "They came up to take me and [my son] Shannon out and they lost. It felt good to beat guys with weapons and guns when all I had was a four-wheel-drive and a good, clear head."

He said he knew Harry Katene would have people with him "because he always does ... He can't do it himself."

Earlier in yesterday's hearing, Mr Tuhoro testified he was in Taranaki the day of the fracas and had a call from son Shannon.

"Because Harry was threatening my son, I decided to come home and deal to him."

Once at Rotoiti he called Harry Katene in an attempt to defuse the situation.

"He told me to get f****d ... 'I am coming down to shoot you and your son'."

Although there had not been trouble between them previously, it was a threat he took very seriously and went outside and sat in his truck "waiting for Harry's attack".

A short time later, he saw lights coming up his driveway.

"Harry was driving. He stopped and pointed his gun out the window towards my truck. He called out, 'Come on then, Alec'. Then bang, bang, bang, bang ... He just let the gun rip."

Mr Tuhoro said he started his truck and rammed Katene's vehicle twice.

He is to give further evidence.

Mr Tuhoro's wife, Katarina, told about seeing two trucks, the first driven by Harry Katene, her brother, coming up the driveway.

After her husband rammed the truck, she saw her son Shannon having a go at someone.

The trial, before a jury of six men and six women, is expected to continue into the middle of next week.

- NZPA