South Auckland murder hearing in July

Press, 25 May 1984, Page 4

South Auckland murder hearing in July

PA Auckland A preliminary hearing of the Crown case against two men charged with murdering a South Auckland taxidriver will begin on July 3. The pair charged with the murder, Jerry Heremaia Pirini, aged 20, of Otara, and Peter Norman Puckey, aged 22, of Otahuhu, both unemployed, were remanded in custody when they appeared in the District Court at Otahuhu yesterday, before Judge Duncan.

No pleas have been entered to the charges of

murdering Ta’ai Lafaele on May 16.

The Judge also remanded Pirini until July 3 on three further charges, that he assaulted a woman on December 12, unlawfully took a car on April 16, and stole two registration plates on April 18. He has pleaded not guilty. On a fifth charge, of committing aggravated robbery at Auckland on or about May 15, Pirini was remanded without plea until July 3 for a date to be set for a preliminary hearing. Four driving charges against Pirini were held

over until July 3. He is charged that, on January 6, he drove with an excess alcohol-breath level, carelessly used a motor-vehicle, failed to stop after a motor accident and failed to ascertain that no injury had been caused in a motor accident. A third man who appeared before the Judge, Martin James Tepania, aged 31, of Wiri, was charged with committing aggravated robbery with Pirini on or about May 15. Tepania, who pleaded not guilty, was remanded in custody until July 23 for a preliminary hearing.