Lawyers arguing for the acquittal of eight Mangu Kaha gang members on trial for an armed confrontation with Mongrel Mob adversaries say there's a lack of evidence to identify them.

The defendants face 20 various charges over conflict in Western Heights on December 11, 2015.

George Robert Jolley, Cramer Tana McMeeking, Chadwick Tamahou Matapuku, Daniel Tere McMeeking, Waimarama Horomai Te Kani, Robert Julian Dashwood, Christopher John Jolley and Major Wetini are on trial at the High Court at Rotorua.

On Wednesday, Daniel McMeeking's lawyer, Jonathan Temm described the melee as "not a day at the races".

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He attacked a lack of independent evidence placing his client - accused of wielding a golf club - at the scene. One secret witness hadn't named him, while another said he hadn't had anything in his hands, Temm said.

Representing Cramer McMeeking, Annette Sykes told the jury the case was one of the missing mullet.

One witness described the man smashing up a car as a young fella with long hair, the other said it was blond.

"This makes it very clear it was not Cramer," Sykes said.

He's charged with intentionally damaging a Commodore, unlawfully possessing a baseball bat with intention of causing grievous bodily harm and participating in an organised criminal group.

Lawyer Douglas Hall said there was no evidence to link Matapuku to the hockey stick an unreliable witnesses claimed he was brandishing.

Christopher Jolley's lawyer, Moana Dorset, accused the secret witnesses of being drug addicted Mongrel Mob associates.

"At the time [of the fracas] Jolley had been on parole, subjected to strict release conditions after being locked up for a year for recidivist driving offences ... he was not there," she said.

Advocating for Te Kani on Wednesday, lawyer Fraser Wood claimed the crown had fudged evidence.

He reminded the jury one secret witness said Te Kani was bare chested when she saw him standing apart from the main group, however when police saw him in a nearby street very soon after shots were fired he was wearing a tee shirt.

When they'd questioned him about blood on it he'd been able to give a valid explanation, showing officers he'd cut his hand.

Wetini's lawyer John Munro argued that while the then 16-year-old had been seen in a car after the confrontation he hadn't been present during it.

He disputed a secret witness' claim she saw him at the fence line, emphasising her view was obscured by a loaded trailer.

Munro described the participation in a criminal group charge as one of the law's most complex because of its numerous elements, warning jurors this made it one of the most difficult to prove.

Justice Sarah Katz is expected to sum up on Thursday afternoon.

-NZN