Gang leader leaves dock smiling
The leader of the Black [ Power Gang walked smilingj from the dock in the Su- ( preme Court yesterday after ( Mr Justice Roper made orders that, no indictments! be presented against him on! charges of rape and having; unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl, aged 14. Shane Piripi Turner, also known as Philip Hapi and as “Baldy” in the gang, aged 24, unemployed, had pleaded not guilty to the charges. Mr N. W. Williamson, who appeared for the Crown, said that difficulties had arisen because of the illness and unavailability of Crown witnesses and ver-, diets returned against two other gang members. Mr C. B. Atkinson appeared for Turner. His Honour said that on: May 16 Mr Atkinson had I
[applied under section 347 of( (the Criminal Justice Act fori (an order that no indictment! (be presented against Turner (on the rape charge. : After having read the; (depositions he came to the] ; conclusion that there was; not sufficient evidence to; justify Turner standing trial on the rape charge. The) order requested by Mr Atkinson was made. Dealing with the charge of! having unlawful sexual [ intercourse his Honour said that having regard to the; fact that David Tatana Na-( than, aged 21, unemployed, ( had been acquitted on a charge of raping the 14 [year-old girl and Richard. (Wiki, aged 19, unemployed,! had been acquitted on a (charge of attempting to rape (the girl, and the Crown’s: I difficulties with crucial wit-1
(nesses, a similar order [would be made in respect of (that charge. Evidence was given at the (trial of Nathan and Wiki ! that, the girl had heen lured (to the gang headquarters at the corner of Fitzgerald Avenue and Lichfield Street where she was set upon by !girls associated with -the [gang and beateh up. When ■ summing up in that trial Mr [Justice Casey referred to I those girls as “young hell[cats.” The girl alleged that NaI than then raped her and that (Wiki had attempted to rape her. It was alleged that the acts committed on the girl . had been at the instigation (of Turner who was charged [with rape in that he procured or counselled two members of the gang to rape ithe girl.
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Press, 17 July 1979, Page 4
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370Gang leader leaves dock smiling Press, 17 July 1979, Page 4
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