Gang leader imprisoned

Press, 7 June 1980, Page 4

Gang leader imprisoned

For what had been des'cribed as a vicious, brutal |assault which sickened bystanders and terrified young [children in a Noddy train lin the crowded New Brighi ton shopping mall on a Saturday. the leader of the ■ Black Power Gang in Christchurch was jailed for IS months in the High Court [yesterday. Mr Justice Cook imposed the term on Shane Piripi Turner, aged 26, known as “Baldy,” who has an extensive list of convictions including offences of violence. Turner was found guilty! as a party by a jury to a charge of disfiguring Ati Pu- ; taunt with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and quilty of assaulting Gordon Maurice Elley with intent to injure, on January 5.

Mr N. W. Williamson, for the Crown. urged his Honour to impose a deterrent sentence to stop gang warfare which was prevalent in Christchurch. The offences on which Turner had been convicted were most serious and the maximum term which could be imposed for the assault on.Mr Putauru was 14 years imprisonment. There was di-

fficulty in identifying offenders in gang clashes which had become all too frequent, Mr Williamson said. Evidence was given during Turner’s trial that Messrs Putauru and Elley had been walking along • the New Brighton Mall which was crowded ’ with Saturday shoppers about midday on January 5 when they were confronted by Turner and other members of the Black Power Gang. Messrs Putauru and Elley were members of the Mongrel Mob. Insults were exchanged and Turner attempted to kick Mr Elley, but missed: Mr Elley was then attacked front behind by two other members of the gang and dragged to the ground where he was repeatedly kicked in the head and body by Turner and other -gang members. It was Turner who had instigated the confrontation by : making a highly offensive I remark. Turner had attacked Mr Putauru and pulled his jacket over his head so that -he was helpless to defend himself. Some of his teeth were knocked out and he was left in a very dazed condition. A

woman said that she was sickened by the viciousness of the attack and young children on a Noddy Train screamed and cried when they saw. what was happening.’ Mr Putauru’s gang patch was ripped from the back of his jacket. Mr E. Bedo. for Turner, said that the jury' had found him guilty only as a party; to the major offence. It was! a reasonable inference that he was not the person who had landed the disfiguring kick. The whole incident was spontaneous and was brought about by the posturing of Black Power and Mongrel Mob gang members. It could have been avoided if both parties had beat a prudent retreat. Mr Elley had not been harmed to any extent, apart from suffering from a sore head. The law was for the protection of all, but, nevertheless, it was almost inescapable that gangs deliberately set. out to antagonise one another, and violence was often the result'. . i There was a tendency in the adversary system for complainants in this type of case to be shown in a more charitable light than otherwise they might have been. Turner did have some ; positive and commendable qualities. Under his leadership the Black Power Gang had done some good work for the community. He had tried to maintain a friendly relationship between his gang and other gangs. Mr Bedo said that he had witnessed an incident on the Armagh Street bridge ] recently when a poorlydressed elderly woman had collapsed. Two members of the Black Power Gang had gone to her assistance immediately and one , had cradled her in his arms until the ambulance arrived. Others in the area had studiously avoided the situation, Mr Bedo said. Hi? Honour said that the offence of disfiguring a person .with intent to cause

igrievous bodily, harm in< Ivblved a brutal attack on(youth carried out. in- fulj j view and to the com Isternation of bystanders. i -Turner was - not alone ’in [the attack and the jury [acknowledged that in ; verdict. Others, . who wera I not before the Court,. hag [acted in a similar fashion, i I i “You have a considerable [list of convictions for crimes [of aggression and violence — assault, fighting in a pub« lie place, wilful damage* and so on. The most serious of< fence was committed thred years ago.’” his Honour saidT It had been claimed tha| the offences were not ■ IpreJ meditated of. planned and arose from a incident during a chance counter, but it .was difficult to say if-that was correct : The probation officer’s re-i port pointed out the good things Turner had / done; Clearly he was capable exerting leadership ‘ and ’ re< sponsibility and of working with others;. It was to ; be hoped that Turner would [develop those qualities. At the age of 26 Turner had to decide what the futi ure was going to hold foil him. These offences were serious and he had-to gc-jtti prison, said his ; Honour.', Turner was sentenced tq 18 months imprisonment |DiX the more serious charge of assaulting Mr Putauru and to six months on the charge of assaulting Mr Elley, tnef terms to be served com currently. That . means hq will serve 18 months which will be further reduced granted the usual remission! for good behaviour.