Riot charges dismissed

Press, 13 November 1985, Page 11

Riot charges dismissed

PA Auckland Charges against half of the Black Power gang members arrested on charges of rioting in the Pukekohe Hotel have been dismissed. Twelve gang members appeared in the District Court at Otahuhu to hear Judge Duncan’s reserved decision after a 2% day hearing. They had denied joint charges of rioting, wilful damage of the hotel, and stealing alcohol from the bar. The Judge said only five men had been positively identified behaving in a disorderly fashion in the hotel in dismissing riot charges against the others. Friends began clapping as the judge read his decision and the discharged men shook the hands of others in the dock before leaving the courtroom.

Damage of about $lO,OOO

was caused, according to evidence. Convicted and remanded in custody for sentencing in the District Court at Pukekohe on November 19 were: Harold Geoffrey Edwards, aged 22, Peter Taaka, 23, Donald Monika, 19, all unemployed, Andre Hori, 19, a council worker, all of Pukekohe; and Jason Te Karawene Taaka, 16, unemployed, of Otara; and Raymond Ruapapera Moke, 19, labourer, of Papatoetoe.

Discharged were: Jack Hoeta, 21, Malcolm Ernest Haranui Iwihora, 19, William Puma, 19, all unemployed; Martin Tu Hoeta, 26, carver, Taki Lawrence Kara, 21, carver, all from Pukekohe. A twelfth man, Fred Edwards, 20, unemployed, of Pukekohe, was cleared of the riot charge but convicted of a separate charge of assaulting the hotel manager. He was fined $175.