Urewera jury ends deliberations for day

The accused - (from left) Te Rangikaiwhira Kemara, Emily Felicity Bailey, Urs Signer and Tame Wairere Iti - in the dock in the High Court at Auckland Photo / Brett Phibbs

Was it bushcraft lessons and training for security work overseas, or was Tame Iti organising a militia in case Tuhoe negotiations with the Crown fell over?

The jury deciding the case of the "Urewera four'' will continue deliberating tomorrow in the trial of Tame Iti, Urs Signer, Emily Bailey and Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara at the High Court at Auckland.

The four are accused of being involved in military-style training camps.

They deny charges of possessing guns and belonging to an organised criminal group, with objectives including murder, arson and using guns against the police.

The jury began deliberations this morning after summing up by Justice Rodney Hansen. He received a note this afternoon from the jurors who asked to "call it a day''.

Before he dismissed them he warned them not to discuss the case with anyone and wished them a "restful evening''.

"Don't put yourself under any pressure with this important job that you've got.''

Earlier, Justice Hansen took the jurors through the charges which the Crown must prove beyond reasonable doubt.

"Some have said this trial will go down in history. Maybe it will, maybe it won't.''

He said it is not possible to judge how the trial will be seen in the future.

"It is not a matter that should trouble you or deflect you from your duty.''

Justice Hansen said the Crown argued that the group was preparing to commit serious violent offences as a back-up plan to Tuhoe negotiations with the Crown.

However, Iti's lawyer Russell Fairbrother argued the group was teaching bushcraft skills and Kemara's lawyer Jeremy Bioletti said they were learning security skills so young people could get jobs overseas.

Justice Hansen said that was for the jurors to decide.

"Maybe there are two worlds as Mr Fairbrother has suggested but there is one law - the law that binds us all and under which you must reach your verdict.''

The fact that firearms charges against 14 co-accused had been dropped was not a factor in their decisions, Justice Hansen said.

The jurors retired shortly before mid-day while supporters of the accused sat and chatted outside the courtroom.

Many have been in court every day and at times the public gallery has been packed to standing room only.

Some of them were woken in the early hours of October 15, nearly five years ago, to armed police with search warrants.

Mana Party leader Hone Harawira and veteran protester John Minto were also in court to listen to Justice Hansen's summing up.

THE CASE SO FAR

* 88 witnesses for the Crown were to be called, however after arrangements with the defence only about half appeared.

* Four witnesses were called for Tame Iti and three for Urs Signer. Bailey and Kemara did not elect to call witnesses.

* The trial was set down for three months but the jurors have retired to consider their verdict inside the fifth week.