Security tight at court

Press, 29 May 1982, Page 3

Security tight at court

PA Wellington Heavy police security surrounded yesterday's sentencing, in the High Court at Wellington, of 14 members of the Eastern Suburbs Rugby League Club, who were found guilty of the manslaughter of the leader of the Mongrel Mob. Lester Epps. More than 30 members of the Mongrel Mob were in the precincts of the court. In the adjacent District Court, a brawl erupted between members of the mob and the Black Power gang. A big contingent of plain clothes and uniformed police were at the High Court for the sentencing. They were stationed on all the doors that gave access to the

courtroom where the 14 were being sentenced. Gang members from Wellington. Porirua, Hastings, and the Gold Coast milled about outside the court building. The public gallery was packed with supporters of the accused. It was full by 9 a.m. The setences of 18 months imprisonment were greeted with a huge sigh of relief by the defendants’ supporters. Many of the defendants smiled and shook hands with their defence counsel and supporters, before being led away. The fracas in the District Court, between the Mongreal Mob and the Black Power, erupted in a corridor, just before 11 a.m. Sentencing, p 4