The Courts Accused told police lie had an aversion to guns

Press, 28 November 1979, Page 5

The Courts Accused told police lie had an aversion to guns

The youth who is alleged to have pumped three shots into a man at close range told a detective that he had never owned a firearm and that he did not believe in them because they could kill people, Mr Justice Casey and a jury were told in the Supreme Court yesterday. Most of yesterday’s hearing took place in the absence of the jury while the admissability of evidence was under consideration in the trial of five young men who have pleaded not guilty to a joint charge of murder.’ The Crown alleges that Peter Haimona, aged 26, a railway worker, was killed when the five accused went looking for Rockford Hill, aged 21, during a feud between two groups. The shooting took place in the bedroom of a house at 7 Bayley Place, Spreydon, in the early hours of Fridav, July 13. The trial ended its seventh day yesterday and is expected to take about three Messrs B. McClelland, QC, and B. M. Stanaway appear for the Crown. The accused are Matthew Morgan King, aged 20, unemployed (Mr L. M. O’Reilly), Wayne Edward Gush, aged 23, unemployed (Mr K. N. Hampton), Anthony Joseph Johnston, aged 22,

a laminator (Messrs P. G. S, Penlington, QC, with him R A. Osborne), Russell James Pirie, aged 24, unempioyet (Mr R. L. Kerr) and Raymond Barry Bradley aged 19 a moulder (Mr M. J. Glue). Detective Royce Drummond Jamieson said that ht interviewed King on the tenth level at the Centra: Police Station. He refused tc give his name and said that witness should know who he was. King said he came from Nelson where both his parents lived. He was married with a son named Michael. They had a discussion about the various motor-cycle gangs King had belonged to. Constable Tibbetts came ir and identified King. In reply to questions King said that he had been at the Aranui Hotel drinking on his own from 8 p.m. until closing time the previous day He walked staggered oi crawled home to 19 Cub; ■ Street as he was in i shocking state. That day he had startet -drinking at 2 p.m. at Cub, Street so that he was rathei drunk when he arrived a the hotel. He had beer drinking wine. When he arrived at Cubs Street, Gush was in bee with a woman. After saying that he had walked intc town the previous day Gush put his feet on the table and said: “These boots have done some walking.” He had taken them off during the night but someone must have put them back on him. On his return to Cuba Street he drank wine directly from a bottle. King was given cups of coffee at various times and just after 11 p.m. the meal he requested arrived. As ht started to eat it the plate fell off the table on to his lap, spilling the food and fell on the floor. He ther carried on eating the meal. Asked if he knew Rocky Hill, King replied that he had met him one night at a place off Gloucester Street. It had been about three months since he had seer

Hill. He thought that Hill . lived in Hoon Hay Road, but he had not been there. I King asked if Hill had been “wasted” and witness . said he had not been and that it was some other ■ bloke. King asked how he ! had died and witness replied J that he did not know *ex ■ actly. i King asked what he was supposed to have done and if he had done it on his own. He was told that the police were trying to sort out his movements. Questioned if he knew [Christine Lee. King replied: : “Yes, but I didn’t rip off her colour telly.” It was ’ denied by King : that he had ever owned a firearm and said that he did not believe in them because ■ [they could kill people. At one stage when the defective asked King for a cigarette he gave him one and ■[said: “Just remember me i[when I’m inside and send i me a Christmas smoke.” At 1 a.m. on July 14 King 1 was told that he was under i arrest on a charge of murdering Peter Haimona. When t asked if he had anything to i[say King just shrugged his ! shoulders and muttered i something. I To Mr O’Reilly, Detective Jamieson said that King had i been in a deep sleep when awakened at 19 Cuba Street under a sleeping bag which was smouldering against an electric heater. There was a struggle involving three police officers before he was I subdued. King smelt of liquor and . appeared to have a hangover. He was questioned at intervals over a period of 17 . hours. At times he appeared to drop off to sleep when « left alone in the office, De- • tective Jamieson said.