'Screwdriver Gang' hit five banks, court hears

Three alleged members of the so-called Screwdriver Gang have gone on trial accused of a spate of robberies in Auckland.

In the High Court at Auckland yesterday, prosecutor Brian Dickey told the jury that it was known as the Screwdriver Gang because of members' penchant for carrying screwdrivers during bank hold-ups.

Over a four-week period from late December 1999 to January 24 last year, five banks were hit: the National Bank in Parnell, the Avondale Bank of New Zealand, the Te Atatu South ASB, the Pakuranga Bank of New Zealand and the Milford ASB.

More than $140,000 was stolen.

John Koteka, aged 22, of no fixed address, and Elder Browne, aged 23, of Otara, are accused of robbing all five banks. Paul Hemana Tipene, aged 21, of Manurewa, is accused of all except the Parnell robbery.

Browne and Koteka face three counts of unlawfully taking cars to be used as getaway vehicles. Tipene is said to have been involved in two of those offences.

Chrissina Anne Andrews, aged 19, of Howick, is accused of helping them avoid arrest. A fourth man, Joseph Balle, who has been dealt with for his part in the Avondale robbery, will be giving evidence.

Mr Dickey, appearing with Tiana Epati, said the gang members were only partly disguised until the last robbery at Milford, when balaclavas were worn.

According to the Crown, the accused could be identified from still photographs taken from video security cameras in some of the banks.

As well, Koteka allegedly left his fingerprints at the Avondale, Te Atatu, and Pakuranga banks and Tipene left his at the Avondale bank and Browne's prints were allegedly found in two getaway cars.

Mr Dickey showed the jury photographs taken at an associate's house in Papatoetoe showing Browne, Koteka, Balle and another man waving around wads of cash which he said "had not come from any honest endeavour."

Some had money in their mouths.

Mr Dickey said that a former friend of Andrews would give evidence of how excited the gang members were when they appeared on the television news bulletins, as police mounted a region-wide search for the robbers. "They watched TV and admitted to at least one witness that it was them," said Mr Dickey.

When the accused were picked up 10 days after the last robbery, they were in a car which Mr Dickey contended was on its way to another hold-up.

Screwdrivers, gloves and balaclavas were found in the vehicle. Koteka and Tipene were wearing gloves and Tipene also had a screwdriver on him.

Mr Dickey said that apart from the hallmark screwdrivers, the robberies were also characterised by robbers leaping over the bank counters for a "lightning-fast raid."

From the second hold-up onwards, a gang member stood guard, acting as a timekeeper. After about a minute he would call time and the gang would leave whether they had finished or not.

Mr Dickey said that police found Browne with $726.

Koteka is represented by Ron Mansfield, Browne by Paul Dacre, Tipene by Marie Dyhrberg and Shelley Edwards and Andrews by Charl Hirschfeld and Karen Harding.

The trial, before Justice John Laurenson, continues today.