Trial dismissed in Black Power case

A Black Power member has walked free after his trial on charges of stabbing two men was aborted in New Plymouth yesterday.

Halen Neale Ryder, 25 denied stabbing the men during a fight in the early hours of January 16 last year, the Taranaki Daily News reported.

Yesterday, Judge Allan Roberts dismissed the charges against Ryder, ruling that a decision would be unsafe for the jury.

Ryder had been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to Edward Duayne Davis and wounding Norman Rewe Dalton with reckless disregard for his safety.

In giving evidence yesterday, Mr Davis told the court he did not know who stabbed him and refused to "nark" after being told who had.

- NZPA