Gang member jailed

Press, 27 August 1979, Page 4

Gang member jailed

PA Auckland An Auckland Magistrate yesterday told a Stormtrooper gang member that his firing of a shotgun through a hotel window was a cold, calculated, almost guerrilla warfare tactic. Watched by about 20 gang members, Mr K. L. Richardson, S.M., told William Te Hira, aged 19, that the trend to this type of behaviour must be stopped. Te Hira, an unemployed machine operator of no fixed abode, was appearing for sentence in the Magistrate’s Court at Otahuhu on five charges arising from incidents in June,

at an earlier hearing he had pleaded guilty to recklessly discharging a firear n, unlawfully possessing a firearm, receiving a firearm, causing criminal damage knowing danger to life might ensue,' and unlawfully taking a car. The Magistrate sentenced Te Hira to three years jail on each of t’ e criminal damage, receiving and unlawfully taking charges, the maximum under his jurisdiction. On the possession of a firearm and reckless discharge he sentenced Te Hira to three months jail, all the terms to be concurrent. “You assembled and loaded a shotgun and then, in a cold, calculated, deliberate action you

shot at the window of the; Star Hotel, knowing you could injure some of your enemies inside. That you did/ not do so was purely fort-/ uitous,” the Magistrate said, j This type of conduct was! not acceptable in a civilised q society. “Yours was a cold. , calculated, quasi - guerrilla warfare tactic exermer l —i'hjl precision,” the Magistrates

said. The defendant had I told the probation officer that the “Blacks” (Black j Power gang members) were his main enemy, after the ■ police, the Magistrate said. Defence counsel, Mr M. S. I Gibson, said the defendant was trying to intimidate the hotel patrons, rather than shoot them.