All-male jury sworn in

Press, 20 April 1982, Page 2

All-male jury sworn in

PA Wellington An all-male jury was' sworn in at the High Court in Wellington yesterday to hear the trial of 14 men accused of murder. The accused, all members of the Eastern Suburbs Rugby League Club, are charged with the murder of a president of the Mongrel Mob, Lester Epps, on August 15 last year. The trial, before Mr Justice Savage, was adjourned after the jury was sworn in,

to allow legal argument to be heard in chambers. Each accused had the right of six challenges of the jurors called. The defence made a total of 31 challenges and the Crown, which has an unrestricted right to stand aside jurors, stood aside seven, two of whom had indicated they knew one of the accused. Earlier, the police said gang members might attend the trial in large numbers, and tight security arrange-

ments had been made in and around the court. However, the public gallery was quiet and orderly. The opening of the trial was delayed by 20 minutes when one of the defendants failed to appear on time. The accused are: Benjamin Joseph Mathews, aged 20, a process worker; Pusa Finau, aged 33, a workman; Via Papa Petero, also known as Samoa Godinet, aged 28, a workman; . Albert Ashford

Gray, aged 24, a forklift driver; Toko Henry, aged 21, a workman; Whetu Eddie Henry, aged 30, a refuse collector; John Arthur McLean, aged 29, a drainage labourer; Massey James Morrison, aged 24, a drainage labourer, Stewart Puha, aged 21, a construction labourer; David James Reihana, aged 20, a dairyhand; Robert Charles Thompson, aged 26, a scrubcutter; Whaiangaroa Walker, aged 33, a widower; Leslie Donald Whittington, aged 24, a workman; Michael Joseph Witehira, aged 21, a forklift driver. All pleaded not guilty. Prosecuting is Mr J. H. C. Larsen and Mr J. M. B. Smith. Mr J. Donovan and Mr M. A. Courtney appear for Finau; Mr M. H. W. Lance and Miss H, Croft for Petero; Mr B. McClelland. Q.C.,' and Mr M. Antunovic for T. Henry; and Mr R. Stacey and Mr J. A. Power for Morrison.

Mr M. A. Bungay and Mr G. Davidson appear for the remaining 10 accused.