Trial of five charged with Murupara murder continues

The trial of five Murupara Mongrel Mob members charged with murder has moved into its second week in the High Court at Rotorua.
The trial was due to start on July 25 but was delayed a week by legal argument.
It stalled late last week when the courtroom it was being heard in was drenched by a broken water pipe in the ceiling. It continued today in a smaller courtroom where district court trials are normally conducted.
Justice John Priestly told jurors and the 11 counsel participating that he had been assured it would be "business as usual'' in the designated High Court room on Wednesday.
On trial are Neville Duff, 33, Joshua-Lesley Whitu, 18, David Te Wharerangi Rewi, 25, Jerome Takere Rutene and Hemi Winitana, both 19.
On the murder count they are jointly charged with Norton Taoho, 19, who pleaded guilty earlier this month.
Another man, Jarrod Tumoana Rewi, 19, has been discharged on the murder charge but has pleaded guilty to one relating to participating in an organised criminal group. The accused are jointly charged with him on that matter.
A criminal group charge against Abraham Jozef Eruera Roberts, 24, was withdrawn last week after the Crown indicated it would not be offering any evidence against him.
The Crown alleges Kaine Lewis, of Kaingaroa, was murdered at Murupara on October 3, 2009. The criminal group charge spans October 2 and 3 of the same year.
Giving evidence this morning Lloyd Te Pania formerly of Murupara but now of Whangarei, said he had been at the same Murupara party as Kaine Lewis in Murupara on October 2, 2009, Kaine was "yellowed up'' in Tribesmen colours.
When a car drove past bottles were thrown at it. A white ute turned up and Taoho, Winitana, Whitu and Duff got out. Duff had been armed with a butcher's knife and a ruler-sized iron bar. "He was tapping them on a pole beside the fence and calling Jerry [Merriman] up, saying he would sort it out.''
Mr Te Pania said Taoho and Whitu were armed with axe handles and Winitana with a long iron bar and a golf club which they were waving about as they yelled out `seig f***ing heil'.
He heard party-goers retaliating with the Tribesmen's slogan "f*** the world" and 'Kroa' (representing Kaingaroa).
Merriman had been telling the Tribesmen not to get involved . . . that they were idiots if they did. However, some became angry and followed the Mongrel Mob's ute, ripping wood from fences as they did so.
He followed the group of about 15 with some women.
A truck reversed out of the Mongrel Mob's headquarters, pinning Kaine Lewis against a house. Kaine had tried to run off but was limping. Taoho had hit him and he fell to the ground.
"Josh [Whitu] and Hemi [Winitana] jumped in, hacking at him. Norton [Taoho] hit him with an axe handle on the back of the head. Kaine fell to the ground and they were still hacking at him his face, torso, legs.''
To Crown prosecutor Fetcher Pilditch, Mr Te Pania compared the force being used with cutting wood. He said Duff had got out of the truck wearing a full-faced helmet. He was circling around armed with a block of wood.
Mr Te Pania said when he heard someone saying ``help him, Lloyd,'' he picked up a piece of wood and yelled.
"They took off. Norton was saying `I am going to kill you, bro'.''
He was unable to get any response from Kaine Lewis who was lying on the footpath.
-NZPA