Security and seating arrangements at the depositions hearing over the slaying of Wanganui toddler Jhia Te Tua came under fire this morning from the lawyer of two of the accused.
The two-year-old died on May 5 last year after shots were fired at her parents' home in the
Wanganui suburb of Gonville.
The depositions hearing began in Wellington District Court yesterday for 12 men charged with her murder.
They are Tyrone Temappi Box, Noel Piha Broughton, James William Challis, Karl Unuka Check, Chance Wairangi Church, Ranji Tane Forbes, Michael Westley Kumeroa, Godfrey Thomas Muraahi, Erueti Chase Nahona, Richard Anthony Puohotaua, Kenneth Smith and Hayden Wallace.
A 13th man, Luke John Check, is charged with being an accessory after the fact.
Security is tight at the court with extra police both inside and outside the building.
The 13 accused men are sitting in the public gallery flanked by police while supporters and members of the public can watch proceedings from another room via a video link.
The media are seated in the jury box.
Defence lawyer Peter Brosnahan, for two of the accused, raised issues this morning about the logistics in the courtroom.
He said it was "outrageous" that the accused men's families could not be in court to support them at this trying time.
He also said the men were unable to see or hear from where they were seated.
Judge Russell Callander said very careful consideration had gone into security arrangements for the hearing and he did not intend to alter those by allowing supporters in the courtroom.
"The problem is that there are security issues in this case,' he said.
"This case is an unusual one in terms of security and for self-evident reasons, I would have thought."
He called an adjournment to discuss seating arrangements with court staff.
- NZPA
