Police keep high profile after mob trio cleared of killing

A high-profile presence continued in the troubled Palmerston North suburb of Highbury today after three men accused of the fatal shooting of teen gang prospect Wallace Whatuira walked free from court.

A 16-year-old eyewitness yesterday backed down on an earlier police statement that he had seen the trio at the scene of the killing, forcing the crown to abandon its case through lack of adequate evidence.

Highbury Focus Community Group chairman Ian Cruden said the suburb had been quiet last night, with police patrolling regularly.

"We had a meeting scheduled yesterday, and the court case was discussed. I guess there was a feeling of disappointment that the court case fell through," he said.

Gang activity in the area had subsided in recent months, Mr Cruden said, and police "seemed to have quite tight control in the area".

He said Highbury residents had hoped to move on after Mr Whatuira's killing. "We want to get Highbury back on a positive footing -- we don't want to be back in the gang warfare situation again."

Police city area controller Inspector Grant Nicholls said he was unaware of any incidents in Highbury last night.

"But there was nothing to suggest anything was going to occur. We policed the area appropriately, and we'll keep doing that," he said.

Mr Nicholls said police would continue to keep a close eye on the suburb.

"Clearly, the events that occurred in court yesterday are an issue we have to take into account with our planning," he said.

"We're taking quite a firm approach and a very focused approach in order to maintain the equilibrium."

It appeared the gang presence in Highbury had lessened in recent months, Mr Nicholls said.

"My understanding is there were some out-of-towners that came in some time ago but I'm not aware of their presence now."

Mr Whatuira, 16, was found dead in the garden of a Coventry St house in suburban Highbury on Waitangi Day this year.

Justices of the Peace hearing depositions against Leon Tuirirangi Hakaraia, 23, accused of murder, and John Henry Waara, 29, and Andrew Popo, 26, both accused of manslaughter, were invited to discharge the trio after the key eye-witness had been heard in Palmerston North District Court yesterday.

Contrary to his early statements to police, the 16-year-old witness refused to identify the accused as being involved in the early-hours shooting of his friend.

- NZPA